at length

length  (lngkth, lngth, lnth)

n.

1. The state, quality, or fact of being long. See Usage Note at strength.

2. The measurement of the extent of something along its greatest dimension: the length of the boat.

3. A piece, often of a standard size, that is normally measured along its greatest dimension: a length of cloth.

4. A measure used as a unit to estimate distances: won the race by a length.

5. Extent or distance from beginning to end: the length of a novel; the length of a journey.

6. The amount of time between specified moments; the duration: the length of a meeting.

7. Extent or degree to which an action or policy is carried. Often used in the plural: went to great lengths to prove his point.

8. Linguistics

a. The duration of a vowel.

b. The duration of a syllable.

9. The vertical extent of a garment. Often used in combination: knee-length; floor-length.

Idiom:

at length

1. After some time; eventually: At length we arrived at our destination.

2. For a considerable time; fully: spoke at length about the court ruling.

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[Middle English, from Old English lengthu; see del-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

at length - in a lengthy or prolix manner; "the argument went on lengthily"; "she talked at length about the problem" lengthily