Definitions for distance
ˈdɪs tənsdis·tance

Princeton's WordNet(3.88 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distancenoun

   the property created by the space between two objects or points

2. distancenoun

   a distant region

   "I could see it in the distance"

3. distance, lengthnoun

   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"

4. distance, aloofnessnoun

   indifference by personal withdrawal

   "emotional distance"

5. distance, spacenoun

   the interval between two times

   "the distance from birth to death"; "it all happened in the space of 10 minutes"

6. distanceverb

   a remote point in time

   "if that happens it will be at some distance in the future"; "at a distance of ten years he had forgotten many of the details"

7. distanceverb

   keep at a distance

   "we have to distance ourselves from these events in order to continue living"

8. outdistance, outstrip, distanceverb

   go far ahead of

   "He outdistanced the other runners"

Wiktionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. distancenoun

   The amount of space between two points, usually geographical points, usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.

2. distancenoun

   The entire amount of space to the objective.

   He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.

3. distancenoun

   A considerable amount of space.

   The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.

4. distanceverb

   To move away (from) someone or something.

   He distanced himself from the comments made by some of his colleagues.

5. distanceverb

   To leave at a distance; to outpace, leave behind.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. DISTANCEnoun

   1.Distance is space considered barely in length between any two beings, without considering any thing else between them. John Locke

   Etymology: distance, French; distantia, Latin.

   It is very cheap, notwithstanding the great distance between the vineyards and the towns that sell the wine. Joseph Addison, on Italy.

   As he lived but a few miles distance from her father’s house, he had frequent opportunities of seeing her. Addison.

   2. Remoteness in place.

   Cæsar is still disposed to give us terms,
   And waits at distance ’till he hears from Cato. Joseph Addison, Cato.

   These dwell at such convenient distance,
   That each may give his friend assistance. Matthew Prior.

   3. The space kept between two antagonists in fencing.

   We come to see fight; to see thy pass, thy stock, thy reverse, thy distance. William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor.

   4. Contrariety; opposition.

   Banquo was your enemy,
   So is he mine; and in such bloody distance,
   That every minute of his being thrusts
   Against my near’st of life. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   5. A space marked on the course where horses run.

   This was the horse that ran the whole field out of distance, and won the race. Roger L'Estrange.

   6. Space of time.

   You must do it by distance of time. 2 Esdr. v. 47.

   I help my preface by a prescript, to tell that there is ten years distance between one and the other. Matthew Prior.

   7. Remoteness in time either past or future.

   We have as much assurance of these things, as things future and at a distance are capable of. John Tillotson, Sermons.

   To judge right of blessings prayed for, and yet at a distance, we must be able to know things future. George Smalridge, Sermons.

   8. Ideal disjunction; mental separation.

   The qualities that affect our senses are, in the things themselves, so united and blended, that there is no separation, no distance between them. John Locke.

   9. Respect; distant behaviour.

   I hope your modesty
   Will know, what distance to the crown is due. Dryden.

   ’Tis by respect and distance that authority is upheld. Francis Atterbury.

   If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is, he keeps his at the same time. Jonathan Swift.

   10. Retraction of kindness; reserve; alienation.

   On the part of heav’n,
   Now alienated! distance and distaste,
   Anger, and just rebuke, and judgment giv’n. John Milton, P. Lost.

2. To Distanceverb

   Etymology: from the noun.

   1. To place remotely; to throw off from the view.

   That which gives a relievo to a bowl is the quick light, or white which appears to be on the side nearest to us, and the black by consequence distances the object. John Dryden, Dufresnoy.

   2. To leave behind at a race the length of a distance; to conquer in a race with great superiority.

   Each daring lover, with advent’rous pace,
   Pursu’d his wishes in the dang’rous race;
   Like the swift hind the bounding damsel flies,
   Strains to the goal, the distanc’d lover dies. John Gay, Fan.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Distancenoun

   the space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place

2. Distancenoun

   remoteness of place; a remote place

3. Distancenoun

   a space marked out in the last part of a race course

4. Distancenoun

   relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; -- contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left

5. Distancenoun

   space between two antagonists in fencing

6. Distancenoun

   the part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape

7. Distancenoun

   ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety

8. Distancenoun

   length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events

9. Distancenoun

   the remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness

10. Distancenoun

    a withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve

11. Distancenoun

    remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor

12. Distancenoun

    the interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh

13. Distanceverb

    to place at a distance or remotely

14. Distanceverb

    to cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seem remote

15. Distanceverb

    to outstrip by as much as a distance (see Distance, n., 3); to leave far behind; to surpass greatly

16. Etymology: [F. distance, L. distantia.]

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Distance

   Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are. In physics or everyday discussion, distance may refer to a physical length, or an estimation based on other criteria. In mathematics, a distance function or metric is a generalization of the concept of physical distance. A metric is a function that behaves according to a specific set of rules, and is a concrete way of describing what it means for elements of some space to be "close to" or "far away from" each other. In most cases, "distance from A to B" is interchangeable with "distance between B and A".

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distance

   dis′tans, n. a space or interval between: remoteness: opposition: reserve of manner: in horse-racing, the space measured back from the winning-post which a horse, in heat-races, must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in the final heat.—v.t. to place at a distance: to leave at a distance behind.—adj. Dis′tanceless, not allowing a distant view—said of hazy weather: having no indications of distance—said of certain pictures.—Keep one at a distance, to treat with reserve; Keep one's distance, to abstain from familiarity with, to keep aloof from. [See Distant.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distance

   The run which a ship has made upon the log-board. In speaking of double stars, it is the space separating the centres of the two stars, expressed in seconds of arc. (See LUNAR DISTANCES.)

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distance

   In military formation, signifies the relative space which is left between men standing under arms in rank, or the interval which appears between those ranks.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distance

   Song lyrics by distance -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by distance on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Keep
   • Leave Behind
   • Region
   • Size
   • Spacing
   • Time Interval

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'distance' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1591

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'distance' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1751

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'distance' in Nouns Frequency: #621

Anagrams for distance »

1. disenact

How to pronounce distance?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say distance in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of distance in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of distance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of distance in a Sentence

1. John Fredericks:

   What he needs to do is hold the very motivated Donald Trump base in Virginia together and inspire that enthusiasm while also attempting to distance himself from some of the Donald Trump personality idiosyncrasies that turned off some of the Virginia big-market suburbanite women, that's a tall order.

2. Armando Martinez:

   I said this guy was going to punch us because he was close to us, maybe he's going to want to hurt me. So I kept my distance and stayed back.

3. Heidi Cruz:

   I'm active and I want to get things done. And so what we needed to do early on was to raise the money to ensure that we could go the distance. And I'm comfortable asking people to help. I'm very comfortable asking people to help, because it's for them.

4. Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen:

   Again, back to personal responsibility. We encourage people to stay, you know, social distance as much as possible. Stay with your pods of people you are already interacting with. Just be respectful of others.

5. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab:

   After nine days of fighting within a distance of 80 km, the enemies have entered Dinsoor district and we are just on the edges of the town, this is not a victory for AMISOM. We have retaken the towns and villages between Baidoa and Dinsoor, which the enemies passed as they advanced.

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