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distance - 7 dictionary results
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dis⋅tance

  [dis-tuhns] noun, verb, -tanced, -tanc⋅ing.
Use distance in a Sentence
–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.
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)
16. to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass.
17. to place at a distance.
18. to cause to appear distant.
—Idioms
19. go the distance,
a. (in horse racing) to be able to run well in a long race.
b. Informal. to finish or complete something, esp. something difficult, challenging, or requiring sustained effort.
20. keep at a distance, to treat coldly or in an unfriendly manner.
21. keep one's distance, to avoid becoming familiar or involved; remain cool or aloof.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME < L distantia, equiv. to distant- (see distant ) + -ia -y 3 ; r. ME destaunce < AF

Related forms:
dis⋅tance⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
10. remoteness, restraint, coolness, aloofness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To distance
dis·tance   (dĭs'təns)   
n.  
  1. The extent of space between two objects or places; an intervening space.
  2. The fact or condition of being apart in space; remoteness.
  3. Mathematics The length or numerical value of a straight line or curve.
    1. The extent of space between points on a measured course.
    2. The length of a race, especially of a horserace.
    3. A point or area that is far away: "Telephone poles stretched way into a distance I couldn't quite see" (Leigh Allison Wilson).
    4. A depiction of a such a point or area.
    1. A point or area that is far away: "Telephone poles stretched way into a distance I couldn't quite see" (Leigh Allison Wilson).
    2. A depiction of a such a point or area.
  6. A stretch of space without designation of limit; an expanse: a land of few hills and great distances.
  7. The extent of time between two events; an intervening period.
  8. A point removed in time: At a distance of 11 years, his memory of the crime was blurry.
  9. The full period or length of a contest or game: The challenger had never attempted the distance of 12 rounds.
  10. An amount of progress: The curriculum committee is a distance from where it was last month.
  11. Difference or disagreement: The candidates could not be at a greater distance on this issue.
  12. Emotional separateness or reserve; aloofness.
tr.v.   dis·tanced, dis·tanc·ing, dis·tanc·es
  1. To place or keep at or as if at a distance: "To understand Russian strategy ... it is necessary for us to distance ourselves from our own myths and to enter into theirs" (Freeman J. Dyson).
  2. To cause to appear at a distance.
  3. To leave far behind; outrun.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Distance

Dis"tance\, n. [F. distance, L. distantia.]

1. 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.

Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely proportioned to the square of the distance. --Sir I. Newton.

2. Remoteness of place; a remote place.

Easily managed from a distance. --W. Irving.

'T is distance lends enchantment to the view. --T. Campbell.

[He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato. --Addison.

3. (Racing) A space marked out in the last part of a race course.

The horse that ran the whole field out of distance. --L'Estrange.

Note: In trotting matches under the rules of the American Association, the distance varies with the conditions of the race, being 80 yards in races of mile heats, best two in three, and 150 yards in races of two-mile heats. At that distance from the winning post is placed the distance post. If any horse has not reached this distance post before the first horse in that heat has reached the winning post, such horse is distanced, and disqualified for running again during that race.

4. (Mil.) Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; -- contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left. "Distance between companies in close column is twelve yards." --Farrow.

5. Space between two antagonists in fencing. --Shak.

6. (Painting) The part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape.

Note: In a picture, the

Middle distance is the central portion between the foreground and the distance or the extreme distance. In a perspective drawing, the

Point of distance is the point where the visual rays meet.

7. Ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety. --Locke.

8. Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events.

Ten years' distance between one and the other. --Prior.

The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years. --Playfair.

9. The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.

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

'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld. --Atterbury.

10. A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve.

Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves. --Bacon.

On the part of Heaven, Now alienated, distance and distaste. --Milton.

11. Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor.

12. (Mus.) The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh.

Angular distance, the distance made at the eye by lines drawn from the eye to two objects.

Lunar distance. See under Lunar.

North polar distance (Astron.), the distance on the heavens of a heavenly body from the north pole. It is the complement of the declination.

Zenith distance (Astron.), the arc on the heavens from a heavenly body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the altitude.

To keep one's distance, to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity.

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

Distance

Dis"tance\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Distancing.]

1. To place at a distance or remotely.

I heard nothing thereof at Oxford, being then miles distanced thence. --Fuller.

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

His peculiar art of distancing an object to aggrandize his space. --H. Miller.

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

He distanced the most skillful of his contemporaries. --Milner.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : distance
Spanish: distancia,
German: die Entfernung,
Japanese: 距離
More Translations »

distance 
c.1290, from O.Fr. destance, from L. distantia "a standing apart," from distantem (nom. distans) "standing apart, separate, distant," prp. of distare "stand apart," from dis- "apart, off" + stare "to stand" (see stet). The figurative sense is the same as in stand-offish. Phrase go the distance (1930s) seems to be originally from boxing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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distance dis·tance (dĭs'təns)
n.
The extent of space between two objects or places; an intervening space.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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distance

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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University of New England
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