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| dis·tance [ dístənss ] |
noun (plural dis·tanc·es) |
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1. length between two things: the length of the space separating two people, places, or things
  What's the distance between Paris and New York?
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2. far-off place: a place or position far away or not very close
It's best seen from a distance.
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3. closeness allowing some activity: the space between two people, places, or things with regard to activity carried on between the two
We can do nothing until they're within hailing distance.
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4. amount of separation: the amount by which two places are separated, especially when thought of in terms of the time or inconvenience of a journey between the two
She lives some distance away.
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5. coolness or aloofness: a cool or slightly aloof response to another person or group
He suddenly felt the need to put some distance between himself and his friends.
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6. interval of time: the interval between one point in time and another, especially a long interval
You can't expect to remember all the details at a distance of more than 20 years.
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7. amount of progress: the amount of progress that has been made or that is still to be made
still some distance to go before we can reach an agreement
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8. ideological gulf: difference of opinion or ideology
There's still some distance between us with regard to the basic issues.
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9. horseracing space greater than 20 lengths: a space of more than twenty lengths between two racehorses, usually the winner and the horse finishing second
win by a distance
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verb (past and past participle dis·tanced, present participle dis·tanc·ing, 3rd person present singular dis·tanc·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb restrain somebody from emotional involvement: to stop yourself or somebody else from becoming emotionally involved in something
Try to distance yourself from past experiences.
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2. dis·tance your·self vr avoid giving support: to deny that you support or are involved with somebody or something, or withdraw support from somebody or something
He was trying to distance himself from the allegations.
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3. transitive verb horseracing beat horse by distance: to beat another racehorse by more than twenty lengths
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| [13th century Directly or via French < Latin distantia< distant- "standing apart" (see distant)] |
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go the distance to continue until you have completed something
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