Definitions for distance
ˈdɪs tənsdis·tance

Princeton's WordNet(3.88 / 8 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

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

2. Distance(noun)

   remoteness of place; a remote place

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

3. Distance(noun)

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

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

4. Distance(noun)

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

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

5. Distance(noun)

   space between two antagonists in fencing

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

6. Distance(noun)

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

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

7. Distance(noun)

   ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety

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

8. Distance(noun)

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

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

9. Distance(noun)

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

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

10. Distance(noun)

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

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

11. Distance(noun)

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

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

12. Distance(noun)

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

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

13. Distance(verb)

    to place at a distance or remotely

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

14. Distance(verb)

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

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

15. Distance(verb)

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

    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.

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

How to pronounce distance?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Angelos Pangratis:

   However, while the finalisation of the negotiations appears certainly within reach, there is still some distance, small compared with the long way we have already gone, which needs to be bridged.

2. Geoffrey Carter:

   The infrared looks for a flash from a gunshot and the acoustics listens for the bang, so we get the flash and the bang, and then we cue the operator. The accoustics get us very accurate azimuth, or bearing, to the threat. The combination of knowing the speed of light and the speed of sound, we’re able to get the distance in the time of arrival to the threat.

3. Mitt Romney:

   I think it will probably narrow down at some point to a smaller group than 15, but I don't know who those (candidates) will be. I'm not sure they'll all be the eight that I'm closest to from a policy standpoint, it may be some I have a little more distance from.

4. Mark Meadows:

   Most of the things we campaigned on were a mirage off in the distance.

5. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:

   A civilization is a heritage of beliefs, customs, and knowledge slowly accumulated in the course of centuries, elements difficult at times to justify by logic, but justifying themselves as paths when they lead somewhere, since they open up for man his inner distance.

Images & Illustrations of distance

Popularity rank by frequency of use