1. (lit.) stretching, stretching out, extension Vin.i.349 = Ja.iii.488 (mukh˚).
2. (appl.) usually as linear measure: extension, length (often comb^d. with and contrasted to vitthāra breadth or width & ubbedha height), as n. (esp. in abl. āyāmato instr. āyāmena in length) or as adj. (-˚): Ja.i.7, Ja.i.49 (˚ato tīṇi yojanasatāni, vitthārato aḍḍhatiyāni); Ja.iii.389; Mil.17 (ratanaṃ soḷasahatthaṃ āyāmena aṭṭhahatthaṃ vitthārena), Mil.282 (ratanaṃ catuhatth’āyāmaṃ); Vism.205 (+ vitth˚) Khb 133 (+ vitthāra & parikkhepa); Vv-a.188 (soḷasayojan˚), Vv-a.199 (˚vitthārehi), Vv-a.221 (˚ato + vitth˚); Pv-a.77 (+ vitth˚), Pv-a.113 (id. + ubbedha); Dhp-a.i.17 (saṭṭhi-yojan˚).

fr. ā + yam, see āyamati