distance
pronunciation
How to pronounce distance in British English:
UK [ˈdɪstəns]
How to pronounce distance in American English:
US [ˈdɪstəns]
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- Noun:
- the property created by the space between two objects or points
- a distant region
- size of the gap between two places
- indifference by personal withdrawal
- the interval between two times
- a remote point in time
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- Verb:
- keep at a distance
- go far ahead of
Word Origin
- distance
- distance: [13] Etymologically, things that are distant stand far apart from each other. The word comes via Old French from Latin distantia, an abstract noun formed from distāns, the present participle of distāre ‘be remote’. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix dis- ‘apart’ and stāre ‘stand’ (source of English state, station, statue, etc and related to English stand).=> stand, state, station, statue
- distance (n.)
- late 13c., "quarrel, estrangement, discord, strife," from Old French destance (13c.), from Latin distantia "a standing apart," from distantem (nominative distans) "standing apart, separate, distant," present participle of distare "stand apart," from dis- "apart, off" (see dis-) + stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand, set down, make or be firm" (see stet). Meaning "remoteness, space between things or places" is late 14c. The figurative sense of "aloofness" is the same as in stand-offish. Phrase go the distance (1930s) seems to be originally from the prize ring, where the word meant "scheduled length of a bout."
- distance (v.)
- 1570s (transitive); 1640s (intransitive), from distance (n.). Related: Distanced; distancing.
Example
- 1. Tell my son to keep his distance ?
- 2. Dictators are easy to admire , especially at a distance .
- 3. Distance learning in india has taken other forms too .
- 4. Harry saw a familiar , snow-white marble building in the distance - gringotts bank .
- 5. The third hurdle is sheer distance .