alargar

to extend

to lengthen

alargar(ah-lahr-gahr)

transitive verb

1. (to make longer)

a. to extend

Van a alargar la carretera para que llegue hasta la playa.

They're going to extend the road so that it reaches the beach.

b. to lengthen

El rímel te alargará las pestañas.

The mascara will lengthen your eyelashes.

c. to let down (clothing)

La falda le quedó corta, y tuve que alargarla.

The skirt became too short for her and I had to let it down.

d. to drag out (a story)

Todas esas descripciones alargan mucho la historia sin aportar nada al argumento.

The extensive descriptions drag out the story without contributing anything to the plot.

2. (to cause to last longer)

a. to extend (a visit or a deadline)

Alargué la visita unos días para pasar más tiempo con mi familia.

I extended the visit for a few days to spend more time with my family.

b. to prolong (a visit or the wait)

No se llegó a un acuerdo, y los sindicatos alargaron el paro una semana.

An agreement could not be reached, and the unions prolonged the strike for another week.

c. to drag out

Si no quieres aburrir al público, no alargues demasiado la presentación.

If you don't want to bore the audience, don't drag out the presentation too long.

3. (to slacken)

a. to let out (the reins or a cable)

Alárgale un poco la correa al perro. Casi no se puede mover.

Let the dog's leash out a bit. He can hardly move.

b. to pay out (a rope or a cable)

Tienes que ir alargando la cuerda a medida que desciendas.

You need to pay out the rope as you climb down.

4. (to outstretch)

a. to stretch out (one's arm or hand)

El mendigo alargó la mano y tomó la moneda que el niño le ofrecía.

The beggar stretched out his hand and took the coin the child was offering him.

b. to hold out (one's arm or hand)

Alargó el brazo para parar un taxi que pasaba.

She held out her arm to flag down a passing taxi.

c. to crane (one's neck)

Alargó el cuello todo lo que pudo, tratando de ver por encima de la multitud.

She craned her neck as much as she could, trying to see above the crowd.

5. (to give)

a. to pass

¿Me alargas las tijeras?

Could you pass me the scissors?

b. to hand

Cuando vio que lloraba, me alargó un pañuelo de papel.

When he realized I was crying, he handed me a tissue.

alargarse

pronominal verb

6. (to continue)

a. to go on

La fiesta se alargó hasta el amanecer.

The party went on until sunrise.

b. to stretch on

Nadie podía imaginar entonces que la guerra se alargaría un año más.

Nobody could have imagined back then that the war would stretch on for another year.

7. (to last longer)

a. to grow longer (days)

A partir de ahora, los días empezarán a alargarse.

From now on, the days will start getting longer.

8. (to become longer)

a. to get longer (nose or shadow)

La luz era distinta y las sombras se habían alargado.

There was a different light and the shadows had gotten longer.