distance

[ dis-tuhns ]

noun

1. the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc.
2. the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness.
3. a linear extent of space:

   Seven miles is a distance too great to walk in an hour.

4. an expanse; area:

   A vast distance of water surrounded the ship.

5. the interval between two points of time; an extent of time:

   His vacation period was a good distance away.

6. remoteness or difference in any respect:

   Our philosophies are a long distance apart.

7. an amount of progress:

   We've come a long distance on the project.

8. a distant point, place, or region.
9. the distant part of a field of view:

   a tree in the distance.

10. absence of warmth; reserve:

    Their first meeting in several years was hampered by a certain distance between them.

    Synonyms: aloofness, coolness, remoteness, restraint

11. Music. interval ( def 6 ).
12. aesthetic distance.
13. Horse Racing. (in a heat race) the space measured back from the winning post that a horse must reach by the time the winner passes the winning post or be eliminated from subsequent heats.
14. Mathematics. the greatest lower bound of differences between points, one from each of two given sets.
15. Obsolete. disagreement or dissension; a quarrel.

verb (used with object)

, dis·tanced, dis·tanc·ing.

1. to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass.
2. to place at a distance.
3. to cause to appear distant.

distance

/ ˈdɪstəns /

noun

1. the intervening space between two points or things
2. the length of this gap
3. the state of being apart in space; remoteness
4. an interval between two points in time
5. the extent of progress; advance
6. a distant place or time

   he lives at a distance from his work

7. a separation or remoteness in relationship; disparity
8. geometry
   1. the length of the shortest line segment joining two points
   2. the length along a straight line or curve
9. the distance
   the most distant or a faraway part of the visible scene or landscape
10. horse racing
    1. a point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post
    2. any interval of more than 20 lengths between any two finishers in a race
    3. the part of a racecourse that a horse must reach in any heat before the winner passes the finishing line in order to qualify for later heats
11. go the distance
    1. boxing to complete a bout without being knocked out
    2. to be able to complete an assigned task or responsibility
12. keep one's distance
    to maintain a proper or discreet reserve in respect of another person
13. the distant parts of a picture, such as a landscape
14. middle distance
    1. (in a picture) halfway between the foreground and the horizon
    2. (in a natural situation) halfway between the observer and the horizon
15. modifier athletics relating to or denoting the longer races, usually those longer than a mile

    a distance runner

verb

1. to hold or place at a distance
2. to separate (oneself) mentally or emotionally from something
3. to outdo; outstrip

Other Words From

• distance·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of distance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin distantia, from distant- (stem of distāns “standing apart”; distant ) + -ia -y ³; replacing Middle English destaunce, from Anglo-French

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go the distance,
   1. (in horse racing) to be able to run well in a long race.
   2. Informal. to finish or complete something, especially something difficult, challenging, or requiring sustained effort.
2. keep at a distance, to treat coldly or in an unfriendly manner.
3. keep one's distance, to avoid becoming familiar or involved; remain cool or aloof.

More idioms and phrases containing distance

see go the distance ; keep one's distance ; spitting distance .

Example Sentences

Manufacturing quality control of components, as well, often hinges on extremely small distances that can mean the difference between a perfect part and a tiny defect that could eventually cause a dangerous mechanical failure.

From Science Daily

Paul's insistence he could beat Mexican superstar Alvarez is a claim which seems even more preposterous after going the distance with a man who was in his prime more than three decades ago.

From BBC

"We'd worked on a previous smart-speaker system where we spread the microphones across a table because we thought we needed significant distances between microphones to extract distance information about sounds," Gollakota said.

From Science Daily

Each athlete is required to run in one of six groups — short sprints, long sprints, short hurdles, long hurdles, short distance, long distance — in races ranging from 100 to 5,000 meters.

From Los Angeles Times

The Moon's orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle - in fact it is elliptical, meaning its distance from Earth at any given time will vary.

From BBC