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Entry 15 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Distance

/dĭs'-təns/ · Dis·tance · IPA /ˈdɪst(ə)n(t)s/
01 n. The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure o…
  1. 1.
    The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place.
    “Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely proportioned to the square of the distance.” — Sir I. Newton.
  2. 2.
    Remoteness of place; a remote place.
    “Easily managed from a distance.” — W. Irving.
    “'T is distance lends enchantment to the view.” — T. Campbell.
    “[He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato.” — Addison.
  3. 3.
    A space marked out in the last part of a race course.(Racing)
    “The horse that ran the whole field out of distance.” — L'Estrange.
  4. 4.
    Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; -- contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left.(Mil.)
  5. 5.
    Space between two antagonists in fencing.
  6. 6.
    The part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape.(Painting)
  7. 7.
    Ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety.
  8. 8.
    Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events.
    “Ten years' distance between one and the other.” — Prior.
    “The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years.” — Playfair.
  9. 9.
    The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.
    “I hope your modesty Will know what distance to the crown is due.” — Dryden.
    “'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld.” — Atterbury.
  10. 10.
    A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve.
    “Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves.” — Bacon.
    “On the part of Heaven, Now alienated, distance and distaste.” — Milton.
  11. 11.
    Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor.
  12. 12.
    The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh.(Mus.)
    “If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time.” — Swift.
Phrases & compounds
Angular distance — the distance made at the eye by lines drawn from the eye to two objects.
Lunar distance — See under Lunar.
North polar distance — the distance on the heavens of a heavenly body from the north pole. It is the complement of the declination.
Zenith distance — the arc on the heavens from a heavenly body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the altitude.
To keep one's distance — to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity.
02 v. t. To place at a distance or remotely.
imp. & p. p. Distanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Distancing
  1. 1.
    To place at a distance or remotely.
    “I heard nothing thereof at Oxford, being then miles distanced thence.” — Fuller.
  2. 2.
    To cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seem remote.
    “His peculiar art of distancing an object to aggrandize his space.” — H. Miller.
  3. 3.
    To outstrip by as much as a distance (see Distance, n., 3); to leave far behind; to surpass greatly. See: Distance
    “He distanced the most skillful of his contemporaries.” — Milner.