oblong

An oblong is a shape whose length exceeds its width. In everyday language it describes any elongated, rounded rectangle or rectangle-like form, particularly those with longer sides. In geometry, the term is most often used to denote a rectangle that is not a square: a four-sided figure with opposite sides parallel and all interior angles right angles, where the length is greater than the width. Some dictionaries extend the sense to more general elongated shapes, but in strict geometric usage an oblong is essentially a non-square rectangle.

Etymology: The word oblong comes from Latin oblongus, from ob- meaning “toward” or “against” and longus meaning “long.” It entered English through Old French and was established in Early Modern English usage.

Measurement and naming: When describing an oblong, length and width are the customary dimensions; the ratio L:W is used to express how elongated the shape is. In practice, many objects that are not true geometric rectangles—such as pills with rounded edges, tablets, or elongated tiles—are referred to as oblongs in common speech, highlighting their extended form rather than precise geometric properties.

Context and usage: Oblong is used across design, architecture, and everyday description to convey an elongated, rectangular silhouette. While some contexts reserve the term for rectangles specifically, the general sense remains that an oblong is longer than it is wide, conveying an extended or stretched appearance compared with a square or circular form.