Definitions for distance
ˈdɪs tənsdis·tance

Princeton's WordNet(4.33 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distance(noun)

   the property created by the space between two objects or points

2. distance(noun)

   a distant region

   "I could see it in the distance"

3. distance, length(noun)

   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, aloofness(noun)

   indifference by personal withdrawal

   "emotional distance"

5. distance, space(noun)

   the interval between two times

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

6. distance(verb)

   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. distance(verb)

   keep at a distance

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

8. outdistance, outstrip, distance(verb)

   go far ahead of

   "He outdistanced the other runners"

Wiktionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. distance(Noun)

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

2. distance(Noun)

   The entire amount of space to the objective.

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

3. distance(Noun)

   A considerable amount of space.

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

4. distance(Verb)

   To move away (from) someone or something.

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

5. distance(Verb)

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

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distance(noun)

   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. Distance(noun)

   remoteness of place; a remote place

3. Distance(noun)

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

4. Distance(noun)

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

5. Distance(noun)

   space between two antagonists in fencing

6. Distance(noun)

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

7. Distance(noun)

   ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety

8. Distance(noun)

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

9. Distance(noun)

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

10. Distance(noun)

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

11. Distance(noun)

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

12. Distance(noun)

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

13. Distance(verb)

    to place at a distance or remotely

14. Distance(verb)

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

15. Distance(verb)

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

Origin: [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.]

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.

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

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 Kerry:

   There is still a distance to travel.

2. Matshona Dhliwayo:

   The distance between two souls is love.

3. Aesop:

   It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.

4. John Sedgwick:

   They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.

5. Dr. Laura Schlessinger, The Dr. Laura radio show:

   Distance lasts a day. But reality lasts a lifetime.

Images & Illustrations of distance

Popularity rank by frequency of use