distance

[ dis-tuhns ]

/ ˈdɪs təns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR distance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc.

the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness.

a linear extent of space: Seven miles is a distance too great to walk in an hour.

an expanse; area: A vast distance of water surrounded the ship.

the interval between two points of time; an extent of time: His vacation period was a good distance away.

remoteness or difference in any respect: Our philosophies are a long distance apart.

an amount of progress: We've come a long distance on the project.

a distant point, place, or region.

the distant part of a field of view: a tree in the distance.

absence of warmth; reserve: Their first meeting in several years was hampered by a certain distance between them.

Music. interval(def 6).

aesthetic distance.

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.

Mathematics. the greatest lower bound of differences between points, one from each of two given sets.

Obsolete. disagreement or dissension; a quarrel.

verb (used with object), dis·tanced, dis·tanc·ing.

to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass.

to place at a distance.

to cause to appear distant.

Idioms for distance

go the distance,

(in horse racing) to be able to run well in a long race.
Informal. to finish or complete something, especially something difficult, challenging, or requiring sustained effort.

keep at a distance, to treat coldly or in an unfriendly manner.

keep one's distance, to avoid becoming familiar or involved; remain cool or aloof.

Origin of distance

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin distantia, equivalent to distant- (see distant) + -ia -y³; replacing Middle English destaunce < Anglo-French

SYNONYMS FOR distance

10 remoteness, restraint, coolness, aloofness.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR distance ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM distance

dis·tance·less, adjective

Words nearby distance

distaff side, distaffer, distain, distal, distal myopathy, distance, distance learning, distance medley, distance modulus, distance race, distance runner

Example sentences from the Web for distancing

“You can borrow that stuff if you want to,” McKenna says, putting a heavy, distancing accent on the word stuff.

The Stacks: The Judas Priest Teen Suicide Trial |Ivan Solotaroff |June 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Now, Dickie says, the church is distancing itself from the perceived alliance.

Pope Francis May Be Risking His Life by Taking on the Mafia |Barbie Latza Nadeau |June 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
During that time, his success mounted but he seemed to be distancing himself from cultural relevance.

Why U Still Love Usher, Baby |Rawiya Kameir |May 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But, astonishingly, rather than distancing themselves from the crisis, Hamas leaders have intensified their engagement in it.

Hamas in the Crosshairs |Hussein Ibish |July 26, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

Lizzie Crocker on why so many powerful women are distancing themselves from ‘feminist.’

Susan Sarandon Says She’s Not a Feminist: Why She Dumped the Label |Lizzie Crocker |July 8, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
He had known his impetuous brother to do many unwise things in the past; but it seemed that he was now distancing his own record.

The Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes |Harrison Adams
All these thoughts flashed through his mind while he ran on, intent on distancing his pursuer, who was close behind him.

Fenn Masterson's Discovery |Allen Chapman
Each is an advance upon the previous, distancing all works of similar composers, and each one surpassing his own previous efforts.

A Popular History of the Art of Music |W. S. B. Mathews
Aware that the Sioux were distancing them, the Pawnee hunters were shouting encouragement to their tribesmen.

Three Sioux Scouts |Elmer Russell Gregor
But when we had got to within about six yards of him, up he got, and galloped off again, distancing us at every stride.

Across Patagonia |Lady Florence Dixie

British Dictionary definitions for distancing

distance

/ (ˈdɪstəns) /

noun

the intervening space between two points or things

the length of this gap

the state of being apart in space; remoteness

an interval between two points in time

the extent of progress; advance

a distant place or time he lives at a distance from his work

a separation or remoteness in relationship; disparity

geometry

the length of the shortest line segment joining two points
the length along a straight line or curve

the distance the most distant or a faraway part of the visible scene or landscape

horse racing

British a point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post
British any interval of more than 20 lengths between any two finishers in a race
US 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

go the distance

boxing to complete a bout without being knocked out
to be able to complete an assigned task or responsibility

keep one's distance to maintain a proper or discreet reserve in respect of another person

the distant parts of a picture, such as a landscape

middle distance

(in a picture) halfway between the foreground and the horizon
(in a natural situation) halfway between the observer and the horizon

(modifier) athletics relating to or denoting the longer races, usually those longer than a mile a distance runner

verb (tr)

to hold or place at a distance

to separate (oneself) mentally or emotionally from something

to outdo; outstrip

Medical definitions for distancing

distance

[ dĭs′təns ]

n.

The extent of space between two objects or places; an intervening space.

Idioms and Phrases with distancing

distance

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

distance

noun

verb (used with object), dis·tanced, dis·tanc·ing.

Idioms for distance

Origin of distance

SYNONYMS FOR distance

OTHER WORDS FROM distance

Words nearby distance

Example sentences from the Web for distancing

British Dictionary definitions for distancing

noun

verb (tr)

Medical definitions for distancing

n.

Idioms and Phrases with distancing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

distance

noun

verb (used with object), dis·tanced, dis·tanc·ing.

Idioms for distance

Origin of distance

SYNONYMS FOR distance

OTHER WORDS FROM distance

Words nearby distance

Words related to distancing

Example sentences from the Web for distancing

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for distancing

noun

verb (tr)

Medical definitions for distancing

n.

Idioms and Phrases with distancing

British Dictionary definitions for distancing