lengthening

From lengthen +‎ -ing.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛŋ(k)θənɪŋ/, /ˈlɛŋ(k)θnɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛŋ(k)θənɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -ɛŋkθənɪŋ
• Hyphenation: length‧en‧ing

lengthening (plural lengthenings)

1. The process of making or growing longer.
   • 2021 September 22, “National Rail Awards 2021: Train Lengthening”, in RAIL, number 940, page 56:

     This enabled an additional 15-20 containers to be carried per train, giving a 20% productivity gain, and was partly enabled by Network Rail completing the lengthening of loops on the route northwards from Southampton via Banbury.

2. (phonology) a type of sound change when a sound (especially a vowel) lengthens

• compensatory lengthening

lengthening

1. present participle and gerund of lengthen