Protract

Part of speech: noun (n.)

Tedious continuance or delay. [Obs.] Spenser.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a war.

2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty. Shak.

3. To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.

4. To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; -- opposed to retract.