distract definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

Search for "distract" in all of MSN Encarta

dis·tract [ di strákt ] (past and past participle dis·tract·ed, present participle dis·tract·ing, 3rd person present singular dis·tracts)

transitive verb

Definition:

1. catch somebody's attention: to take somebody's attention away from what he or she is doing or thinking or from what is happening

2. amuse somebody: to amuse or entertain somebody, especially as a means of taking his or her mind off something unpleasant

3. make somebody uneasy: to unsettle somebody's mind with disturbing, confusing, or conflicting emotions ( archaic )

[14th century. < Latin distract-, past participle of distrahere "draw away" < trahere "draw, drag"]

dis·tract·i·bil·i·ty [ di stràktə bíllətee ] noun

dis·tract·i·ble [ di stráktəb'l ] adjective

dis·trac·tive [ di stráktiv ] adjective

Also on Encarta

•	10 tips for building your English vocabulary

•	Alternatives to the M.B.A.

•	GPS for students

•	Saving for college

•	Presidential Myths Quiz

•

Our Partners

•	ApplyWise Online College Admissions Counseling

•	The Princeton Review

•

Also on MSN

•	Project Earth: Big Ideas for Saving the Planet on the Discovery Channel

•	MSN Shopping: Best books for the season

•	MSN Careers: Nail that job interview

•