Definition
Elongation refers to the act of lengthening or the state of being lengthened. It implies stretching or extending something to make it longer. Think of pulling taffy, or a rubber band being stretched. Elongation can occur in physical objects, like metal under stress, but also metaphorically, such as the elongation of a story. It is the opposite of contraction. Elongation is about increasing length, often implying a change in shape.