Length vs. Furlong — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 27, 2024
Length refers to the measurement of how long something is, often measured in units like meters or feet, while a furlong is a specific unit of length, equivalent to 660 feet or 201.168 meters.
Difference Between Length and Furlong
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Length is a general measurement term used to describe the extent of something from end to end, such as the length of a room, while a furlong is a specific unit used primarily in horse racing.
The term length can be applied universally across various objects and contexts, like measuring the length of a table, whereas a furlong is specifically used to measure distances in certain sports and rural settings.
Length units can include inches, feet, meters, and kilometers, depending on what is being measured and the context of the measurement, while a furlong is traditionally used in the English speaking world, especially in countries that follow Imperial measurements.
Length measurements are part of everyday calculations and dimensions, which can be converted from one unit to another, such as converting meters to yards, on the other hand, a furlong remains consistent as an old English measure and is not often subject to conversion in modern usage.
Length is crucial in fields like construction, physics, and everyday use for clarity in spatial relationships, whereas a furlong, though less commonly used, holds significant historical and cultural value, particularly in the UK and the horse racing community.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The measurement from one end to another.
A specific measure of distance, 660 feet or 201.168 meters.
Units
Meters, feet, inches, kilometers.
Furlongs (no smaller unit typically used).
Usage Context
General measurement in various fields.
Primarily in horse racing and rural measurements.
Conversion Flexibility
Highly convertible between units.
Rarely converted outside specific contexts.
Cultural and Historical Significance
Widely used and essential in everyday life.
Historical significance, especially in the UK.
Compare with Definitions
Length
A piece of something measurable.
She cut a length of ribbon for the gift.
Furlong
Unit of length in the Imperial system.
The old farm was just a furlong down the road.
Length
The state or fact of being long.
The length of the hallway was impressive.
Furlong
Historically used in land measurement.
He owned several furlongs of fertile land.
Length
Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with dimension distance.
Furlong
Equivalent to 660 feet.
We need to measure out a furlong of this field for the track.
Length
The measurement or extent of something from end to end; the greater of two or the greatest of three dimensions of an object
The fish reaches a length of 10 inches
The delta is twenty kilometres in length
Furlong
Less commonly used today.
The furlong is a reminder of the historical measurement systems.
Length
The amount of time occupied by something
Delivery must be within a reasonable length of time
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. In the United States some states use older definitions for surveying purposes, leading to variations in the length of the furlong of two parts per million, or about 0.4 millimetre (1⁄64 inch).
Length
A piece or stretch of something
The surviving length of track
A length of brown satin
Furlong
An eighth of a mile, 220 yards.
Length
An extreme to which a course of action is taken
They go to great lengths to avoid the press
Furlong
A unit for measuring distance, equal to 1/8 mile (201 meters).
Length
The distance from the batsman at which a well-bowled ball pitches
Lewis tended to bowl short of a length
Furlong
A unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mile (220 yards, or 201.168 metres), now mainly used in measuring distances in farmland and horse racing.
Length
(in bridge or whist) the number of cards of a suit held in one's hand, especially when five or more
To open one heart with equal length in hearts and spades is in the modern Acol style
Furlong
(dated)
Length
The state, quality, or fact of being long. See Usage Note at strength.
Furlong
A unit of land area one furlong (distance) square (ten acres, or about four hectares).
Length
The measurement of the extent of something along its greatest dimension
The length of the boat.
Furlong
An undefined portion of an unenclosed field.
Length
A piece, often of a standard size, that is normally measured along its greatest dimension
A length of cloth.
Furlong
(historical) stadion
Length
A measure used as a unit to estimate distances
Won the race by a length.
Furlong
Synonym of headland
Length
Extent or distance from beginning to end
The length of a novel.
The length of a journey.
Furlong
Synonym of land
Length
The amount of time between specified moments; the duration
The length of a meeting.
Furlong
A measure of length; the eighth part of a mile; forty rods; two hundred and twenty yards.
Length
Often lengths Extent or degree to which an action or policy is carried
Went to great lengths to prove his point.
Furlong
A unit of length equal to 220 yards
Length
The duration of a vowel.
Furlong
Commonly used in horse racing.
The race was five furlongs long.
Length
The duration of a syllable.
Length
The vertical extent of a garment. Often used in combination
Knee-length.
Floor-length.
Length
The distance measured along the longest dimension of an object.
Length
Duration.
Length
(horse racing) The length of a horse, used to indicate the distance between horses at the end of a race.
Length
(mathematics) Distance between the two ends of a line segment.
Length
(cricket) The distance down the pitch that the ball bounces on its way to the batsman.
Length
(figuratively) Total extent.
The length of a book
Length
Part of something that is long; a physical piece of something.
A length of rope
Length
(theatre) A unit of script length, comprising 42 lines.
Length
(bridge) The number of cards held in a particular suit.
Length
(obsolete) To lengthen.
Length
The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.
Length
A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; - often in the plural.
Large lengths of seas and shores.
The future but a length behind the past.
Length
The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.
Length
A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.
Length
Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length.
May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your blissWith length of days, and every day like this.
Length
Distance.
He had marched to the length of Exeter.
Length
To lengthen.
Length
The linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest horizontal dimension of something that is fixed in place;
The length of the table was 5 feet
Length
Continuance in time;
The ceremony was of short duration
He complained about the length of time required
Length
The property of being the extent of something from beginning to end;
The editor limited the length of my article to 500 words
Length
Size of the gap between two places;
The distance from New York to Chicago
He determined the length of the shortest line segment joining the two points
Length
A section of something that is long and narrow;
A length of timber
A length of tubing
Length
Measurement from end to end.
The length of the bridge is 500 meters.
Length
Extent of an object in space.
The rope has a length of 20 feet.
Length
Duration or extent in time.
The length of the movie was nearly two hours.
Common Curiosities
Is the term length used in scientific contexts?
Yes, length is widely used in scientific, construction, and everyday contexts.
What is length commonly used to measure?
Length is used to measure the distance from one point to another in various contexts.
How many feet are in a furlong?
There are 660 feet in a furlong.
How is length measured in everyday life?
Length is measured using rulers, measuring tapes, and digital devices depending on the context.
Is a furlong used internationally?
A furlong is primarily used in countries that are influenced by the British Imperial system.
What are common units of length?
Common units include meters, feet, inches, and kilometers.
Why is the furlong considered less practical today?
Due to its very specific usage and lack of subdivisions, it is less practical in modern diverse measurement needs.
Can length be converted to other units easily?
Yes, length can be easily converted between different units like meters to yards or feet to kilometers.
How is a furlong specifically used?
A furlong is specifically used in horse racing and historical land measurements.
What is the significance of the furlong in historical measurements?
The furlong was originally used for land and distance measurements in farming and has historical significance.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
