elongated

Elongated is an adjective used to describe something that has been lengthened or is longer than typical or proportionally extended along one axis. It derives from Latin elongatus, the past participle of elongare, to lengthen.

In geometry and morphology, an elongated figure is one whose main dimension is longer than its other dimensions. An elongated ellipse or ellipsoid has a large major axis; an elongated hexagon is a hexagon stretched along a direction. In taxonomy, organisms or structures may be described as elongated when their length greatly exceeds width, such as elongated leaves, seeds, or bodies.

In biology, elongation is a common developmental process. Cell elongation refers to cells increasing in length, often through targeted expansion of the cell wall, as seen in plant stems and roots, or in animal tissues such as muscle fibers and neurons. The term also describes the body plan of many animals, which feature extended forms adapted to locomotion or habitat.

In materials science and chemistry, elongated describes molecules, fibers, or crystals with an extended length compared with their width, such as elongated polymer chains or crystalline shapes. In paleontology and anthropology, elongated skulls or cranial forms have been observed in some human populations as a cultural modification or natural variation.

Elongation is also used in everyday language to denote the act or process of lengthening, whether through growth, stretching, or engineering.