Meaning of distance | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
   countable, uncountable
2. go the distance, a. (in horse racing) to run well in a long race.
3. 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.
   countable, uncountable
4. third-person singular present indicative
5. the fixing of the position of an object by transmitting a signal and measuring the time required for it to bounce back, typically done by radar or sonar.
6. 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.
   countable, uncountable
7. second-person singular imperative
8. odometer.
9. Chiefly with a modifying word: a measure between two points or quantities; a difference, a variance.
   countable, uncountable
10. the ability, sometimes pretended, to sight ships or land at great distances.
11. An interval or length of time between events.
    countable, uncountable
12. a device that records the distance traveled; a recording odometer or pedometer.
13. A separation in some way other than space or time.
    countable, figuratively, uncountable
14. a device for measuring the distance passed over, as by an automobile. Also spelled hodometer.
15. Synonym of length (“an extent measured along the longest dimension of an object”).
    countable, obsolete, uncountable
16. a device that measures the distance walked by counting the number of steps taken.
17. A disagreement, a dispute; also, an estrangement.
    countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable
18. a surveying instrument for measuring distance, height, elevation, etc.
19. A difference in pitch between sounds; an interval.
    countable, obsolete, uncountable
20. the measurement of distance, height, elevation, etc., with a tachymeter.
21. The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
    countable, uncountable
22. the science or use of the telemeter; long-distance measurement.
23. The maximum amount of space between a boxer and their opponent within which the boxer can punch effectively.
    countable, uncountable
24. Often in go the distance, last the distance, or stay the distance: the scheduled duration of a bout.
    countable, uncountable
25. 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.
    countable, uncountable
26. Originally, the space measured back from the winning post which a racehorse running in a heat must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in a subsequent heat; also, the point on the racecourse that space away from the winning post; now, the point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post.
    countable, uncountable
27. The amount of space between soldiers or cavalry riders marching or standing in a rank; also, the amount of space between such ranks.
    countable, uncountable
28. The complete length of a course over which a race is run.
    countable, uncountable
29. Chiefly preceded by the, especially in into or in the distance: the place that is far away or remote.
    countable, uncountable
30. The state of being separated from something else, especially by a long way; the state of being far off or remote; farness, remoteness.
    countable, uncountable
31. The entire amount of progress to an objective.
    countable, figuratively, uncountable
32. The state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time.
    countable, figuratively, uncountable
33. The state of people not being close, friendly, or intimate with each other; also, the state of people who were once close, friendly, or intimate with each other no longer being so; estrangement.
    countable, figuratively, uncountable
34. Excessive reserve or lack of friendliness shown by a person; aloofness, coldness.
    countable, figuratively, uncountable
35. The rank to which an important person belongs.
    countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable
36. The state of disagreement or dispute between people; dissension.
    countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable
37. Often followed by to or towards: an attitude of remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, ceremoniousness.
    countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“[S]he […] gaue vs into our boate our ſupper halfe dreſſed, pots, and all, and brought vs to our boates ſide, in which wee laye all night, remoouing the ſame a pretie diſtance from the ſhoare: […]”

“The prince is here at hand, pleaſeth your Lordſhip / To meet his grace iuſt diſtance tvveene our armies.”

“The third of Aprill, early in the morning, vvee had ſight of the Holy Port [Porto Santo], belonging to the Spaniard, vvhich Ile at eight leagues diſtance, gaue it ſelfe in this ſhape vnto vs.”

“Novv by this time the Man vvas got a good diſtance from them; But hovvever they vvere reſolved to purſue him; vvhich they did and in little time they over-took him”

“[W]e get the Idea of Space, both by our Sight, and Touch; vvhich, I think, is ſo evident, that it vvould be as needleſs, to go to prove, that Men perceive by their Sight, a diſtance betvveen Bodies of different Colours, or betvveen the parts of the ſame Body; as that they ſee Colours themſelves: Nor is it leſs obvious, that they can do ſo in the Dark by Feeling and Touch. This Space conſidered barely in length betvveen any tvvo Beings, vvithout conſidering any thing elſe betvveen them, is called diſtance: If conſidered in Length, Breadth, and Thickneſs, I think, it may be called Capacity: […]”

“VVe kept at a good diſtance off ſhore, and ſavv no Land till the 14th day; but then, being in lat. 12 d. 50 m. the Volcan of Guatimala appeared in ſight.”

“Helim had placed tvvo of his ovvn Mules at about a Mile's Diſtance from the black Temple, on the Spot vvhich they had agreed upon for their Rendezvous.”

“[O]bservations on the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites have demonstrated that light takes up no more than 8′ 7″ in passing from the sun to the earth, a distance of 95,000,000 miles.”

“Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, through the open screen, down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.”

“I have never been to Dallas, but I suppose that, like other American cities I know, it has a residential district within easy motoring distance of the business section and the country club where the affluent have fine houses in large gardens with a handsome view of hill or dale from the living-room windows.”

“VVhen from a Diſtance (I ſpeak vvith the Vulgar) vve behold great Objects, the Particles of the intermediate Air and Vapours, vvhich are themſelves unperceivable, do interrupt the Rays of Light, and thereby render the Appearance leſs Strong and Vivid; […]”

“Vievv'd from a diſtance, and vvith heedleſs eyes, / Folly and innocence are ſo alike, / The diff'rence, though eſſential, fails to ſtrike.”

“As he was about to descend, he heard a voice from a distance, hallooing, "Rip Van Winkle! Rip Van Winkle!"”

“The rocks of St. Paul appear from a distance of a brilliantly white colour. This is partly owing to the dung of a vast multitude of seafowl, and partly to a coating of a glossy white substance, which is intimately united to the surface of the rocks.”

“And every man on board [the ship], waking or sleeping, good or bad, had had a kinder word for another on that day than on any day in the year; and had shared to some extent in its festivities; and had remembered those he cared for at a distance, and had known that they delighted to remember him.”

“Dark and sad were those short autumn days, when all the distances were shut off, and the air choked with foul brown fog and drenching rains from off the eastern sea; […]”

“From a distance, you look like my friend / Even though we are at war / From a distance, I just cannot comprehend / What all this fighting's for // […] // God is watching us / From a distance”

“angular distance    focal distance”

“The distance between the lowest and next gear on my bicycle is annoying.”

“By the time I encountered them, Connie's friend […] was quite elderly (Connie was the younger by a considerable distance)”

“VVe cannot tell, at this diſtance of time, vvhich Converſation vvas firſt, that vvith Phalaris, or that vvith Leon.”

“I Muſt help my Preface by a Poſtſcript, to tell the Reader, that there is Ten Years Diſtance betvveen my vvriting the One and the Other; and that (vvhatever I thought then, and have ſomevvhere ſaid, that I vvould publiſh no more Poetry) He vvill find ſeveral Copies of Verſes ſcattered through this Edition, vvhich vvere not printed in the Firſt.”

“You vvill take this draught, three times a-day, at tvvo hours' diſtance, firſt ſhaking it vvell.”

“IT is a remarkable fact in the hiſtory of ſcience, that the oldeſt book of Elementary Geometry is ſtill conſidered as the beſt, and that the vvritings of Euclid, at the diſtance of tvvo thouſand years, continue to form the moſt approved introduction to the mathematical ſciences.”

“But the new sovereign's mind was haunted by an apprehension not to be mentioned, even at this distance of time, without shame and indignation.”

“The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.”

“He ſhall in ſtrangeſt, ſtand no farther off, / Then in a politique diſtance.”

“The buſy men in Scotland, being encouraged from Rotterdam, vvent about the country, to try if any men of vveight vvould ſet themſelves at the head of their deſigns for an inſurrection. The Earl of Caſſilis [i.e., John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis] and Lockhart [William Lockhart of Lee] vvere the tvvo perſons they reſolved to try. But they did it at ſo great a diſtance, that, from the propoſition made to them, there vvas no danger of miſpriſion of treaſon.”

“[N]other perceaueth the concordaunt and diſcordante diſtaunces of ſoundes, and tunes […]”

“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.”

“[William] Page. I haue heard the French-man hath good skill in his Rapier. / [Robert] Shal[low]. Tut ſir: I could haue told you more: In theſe times you ſtand on diſtance: your Paſſes, Stoccado's, and I knovv not vvhat: […]”

“THere vvere a Great many Brave, Sightly Horſes vvith Rich Trappings that vvere brought out One day to the Courſe, and Only One Plain Nag in the Company that made ſport for All the reſt. But vvhen they came at laſt to the Tryal, This vvas the Horſe that ran the VVhole Field out of Diſtance, and VVon the Race. / The MORAL. Our Senſes are No Competent Judges of the Excellencies of the Mind.”

“There was a little light / That twinkled in the misty distance: […]”

“They walked along the road; Scrooge recognising every gate, and post, and tree; until a little market-town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river.”

“[W]e hear / A trumpet in the distance pealing news / Of better, and Hope, […]”

“Some Figures monſtrous and miſ-ſhap'd appear, / Conſider'd ſingly, or beheld too near, / VVhich, but proportion'd to their Light, or Place, / Due Diſtance reconciles to Form and Grace.”

“[Julius] Cæſar is ſtill diſpoſed to give us Terms, / And vvaits at Diſtance 'till he hears from Cato.”

“VVhy do thoſe cliffs of ſhadovvy tint appear / More ſvveet than all the landſcape ſmiling near?— / 'Tis Diſtance lends enchantment to the vievv, / And robes the mountain in its azure hue.”

“Afar the Contadino's song is heard, / Rude, but made sweet by distance;—[…]”

“But what did Scrooge care? It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call "nuts" to Scrooge.”

“He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.”

“the distance between a descendant and their ancestor”

“We’re narrowing the distance between the two versions of the bill.”

“For ſhe vvas ſought by ſpirits of ritcheſt cote, / But kept cold diſtance, and did thence remoue, / To ſpend her liuing in eternall loue.”

“[F]oul diſtruſt, and breach / Diſloyal on the part of Man, revolt, / And diſobedience: On the part of Heav'n / Novv alienated, diſtance and diſtaſte, / Anger and juſt rebuke, and judgement giv'n, […]”

“In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle—a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening for a pipe and a cheerful glass. […] Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance; they were received with distance and suspicion.”

“[T]o your eye, / Theſe (Madame) that vvithout your diſtance lie, / Muſt either miſt, or nothing ſeeme to be, […]”

“I am not ſatisfied in vvhat diſtance properly to place theſe perſons. Some, perchance, vvill account it too high, to rank them amongſt Martyrs; and ſurely, I conceive it too lovv, to eſteem them but bare Confeſſours.”

“Macb[eth]. Both of you knovv Banquo vvas your Enemie. / Murth[erer]. True, my Lord. / Macb. So is he mine: and in ſuch bloody diſtance, / That euery minute of his being, thruſts / Againſt my neer'ſt of Life: […]”

“Generally, the Diuiding and Breaking of all Factions, and Combinations that are aduerſe to the State, and ſetting them at diſtance, or at leaſt diſtruſt amongſt themſelues, is not one of the vvorſt Remedies.”

“He tells me, among other things, that this business of the Chancellor do breed a kind of inward distance between the King and the Duke of York, and that it cannot be avoided; […]”

“[T]he true Reaſon vvhy I did not mention her before, vvas, that I apprehended there vvas ſome little Diſtance betvveen them, vvhich I hoped to have the Happineſs of accommodating.”

“[T]hough you ſee / The King is kind, I hope your modeſty / VVill knovv, vvhat diſtance to the Crovvn is due.”

“I vvill not ſift into them too minutely; for I'll obſerve the reſpect and diſtance that's due to him from his Scholar: […]”

“Third plain Reaſon of the Publick Honours done to the Magiſtrate is, that he may not only be ſecure, but had alſo in due Eſtimation and Reverence by all thoſe vvho are ſubject to him. 'Tis by Reſpect and Diſtance that Authority is upheld; and 'tis by Outvvard Marks and Enſigns of Honour that Reſpect is ſecured; eſpecially from Vulgar Minds, vvhich do not enter into the true Reaſons of Things, but are govern'd by Appearances.”

“Slipſlop, vvho had preſerved hitherto a Diſtance to her Lady, […] anſvvered her Miſtreſs very pertly, […]”

“It is not to be thought that, however strange and uncommon I might think her liberal and unreserved communications, a young man of two-and-twenty was likely to be severely critical on a beautiful girl of eighteen, for not observing a proper distance towards him; […]”

CEFR level