distance
An amount of space between points, usually measured along a straight lineAn amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
Recorded UK: Speaker: Vealhurl Recorder: Vealhurl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Recorded US: Dvortygirl, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
» We saw a castle in the distance.
In der Ferne sahen wir ein Schloss. — Pfirsichbaeumchen
Мы увидели вдали замок. — Hellerick
Ми побачили вдалині замок. — deniko
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRTranslations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 2
Examples
863 sentencesWe saw a castle in the distance.
Ми побачили вдалині замок. — deniko
ruМы увидели вдали замок. — Hellerick
deIn der Ferne sahen wir ein Schloss. — Pfirsichbaeumchen
We were glad when we saw a light in the distance.
Ми були раді, що побачили вдалині вогник. — aandrusiak
ruМы были рады, увидев свет вдалеке. — odexed
She wants to keep him at a distance.
Вона хоче тримати його на відстані. — deniko
deSie möchte ihn auf Abstand halten. — Wolf
Meaning
25 senses(countable, uncountable)An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
Distanz, Abstand, Entfernung
расстоя́ниеrasstojánije, диста́нцияdistáncija, отдалённостьotdaljónnostʹ
диста́нціяdystáncija, ві́ддальvíddalʹ, відда́ленняviddálennja
(countable, uncountable)An interval or length of time between events.
the interval between two times
(countable, uncountable)Chiefly in from a distance: a place which is far away or remote; specifically (especially painting), a more remote part of a landscape or view as contrasted with the foreground.
Ferne, Weite
More meanings 22
(countable, uncountable)Chiefly with a modifying word: a measure between two points or quantities; a difference, a variance.
angular distance focal distance
The distance between the lowest and next gear on my bicycle is annoying.
(countable, figuratively, uncountable)A separation in some way other than space or time.
The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.
(countable, uncountable)The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
The distance to Petersborough is thirty miles.
From Moscow, the distance is relatively short to Saint Petersburg, relatively long to Novosibirsk, but even greater to Vladivostok.
(countable, figuratively, uncountable)The entire amount of progress to an objective.
He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.
(countable, figuratively, uncountable)The state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time.
the distance between a descendant and their ancestor
We’re narrowing the distance between the two versions of the bill.
a remote point in time
An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
(countable, uncountable)Chiefly in by a distance: a space of more than 30 lengths (about 80 yards or 7.3 metres) between two racehorses finishing a race, used to describe the margin of victory; also (archaic), any space of 240 yards (about 219.5 metres) on a racecourse.
The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
(countable, uncountable)The maximum amount of space between a boxer and their opponent within which the boxer can punch effectively.
(countable, uncountable)Often in go the distance, last the distance, or stay the distance: the scheduled duration of a bout.
(countable, uncountable)The amount of space between a fencer and their opponent, which the fencer tries to control in order to gain an advantage over the opponent.
Origin
From Middle English distance, distaunce, destance (“disagreement, dispute; discrimination;From Middle English distance, distaunce, destance (“disagreement, dispute; discrimination; armed conflict; hostility; trouble; space between two points; time interval”), from Anglo-Norman distance, distaunce, destance, Middle French distance, and Old French destance, destaunce, distaunce (“debate; difference, distinction; discord, quarrel; dispute; space between two points; time interval”) (modern French distance), and directly from their etymon Latin distantia (“difference, diversity; distance, remoteness; space between two points”) (whence also Late Latin distantia (“disagreement; discrepancy; gap, opening; time interval”)), from distāns (“being distant; standing apart”) + -ia (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). Distāns is the present active participle of distō (“to be distant; to stand apart; to differ”), from dis- (prefix meaning ‘apart, asunder; in two’) + stō (“to stand”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”)).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: distancesSynonyms
9 synonymsWord family
64 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable
Collocations
12 patterns- in the distance
- within walking distance
- walking distance
- long distance
- from a distance
- distance from here
- walking distance from
- walking distance of
- long distance relationship
- a long distance
- walking long distances
- the distance between
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.