–noun

1.	the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc.

2.	the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness.

3.	a linear extent of space: Seven miles is a distance too great to walk in an hour.

4.	an expanse; area: A vast distance of water surrounded the ship.

5.	the interval between two points of time; an extent of time: His vacation period was a good distance away.

6.	remoteness or difference in any respect: Our philosophies are a long distance apart.

7.	an amount of progress: We've come a long distance on the project.

8.	a distant point, place, or region.

9.	the distant part of a field of view: a tree in the distance.

10.	absence of warmth; reserve: Their first meeting in several years was hampered by a certain distance between them.

11.	Music. interval (def. 6).

12.	aesthetic distance.

13.	Horse Racing. (in a heat race) the space measured back from the winning post that a horse must reach by the time the winner passes the winning post or be eliminated from subsequent heats.

14.	Mathematics. the greatest lower bound of differences between points, one f 376 rom each of two given sets.

15.	Obsolete. disagreement or dissension; a quarrel.

–verb (used with object)

16.	to leave behind at a distance, as at a race; surpass.

17.	to place at a distance.

18.	to cause to appear distant.

—Idioms

19.	go the dis 111d tance, a. (in horse racing) to be able to run well in a long race. b. Informal. to finish or complete something, esp. something difficult, challenging, or requiring sustained effort.

20.	keep at a distance, to treat coldly or in an unfriendly manner.

21.	keep one's distance, to avoid becoming familiar or involved; remain cool or aloof.

–noun

1.	knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application.

2.	the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill.

3.	Psychology. the modification of behavior through practice, training, or experience.

c.1230, from O.Fr. degre "a degree, step, rank," from V.L. *degradus "a step," from L.L. degredare, from L. de- "down be7 " + gradus "step" (see grade). Most modern senses date from M.E., from notion of a hierarchy of steps. Meaning "a grade of crime" is 1676; that of "a unit of temperature" is from 1727. The division of the circle into 360 degrees is very ancient and was known in Babylon and Egypt. It is perhaps from the daily motion of the sun through the zodiac in the course of a year.