distraction

English

Etymology

See to distract.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɪsˈtɹækʃən/

Noun

distraction (plural distractions)

1. Something that distracts.

   Poking one's eye is a good distraction from a hurting toe.

2. The process of being distracted.

   We have to reduce distraction in class if we want students to achieve good results.

3. Perturbation; disorder; disturbance; confusion.
   • 1662 Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (Dialogue 2):

     It's true that the Copernican Systeme introduceth distraction in the universe of Aristotle.

4. Mental disorder; a deranged state of mind; insanity.

   The incessant nightmares drove him to distraction.

Translations

something that distracts

Bulgarian: развлечение (bg) n. Catalan: distracció (ca) f. Finnish: häiriö, häiriötekijä

German: Ablenkung (de) f. Japanese: 逆上 (ぎゃくじょう, gyakujō)

the process of being distracted

Bulgarian: отвличане (bg), разсейване (bg) n.

Finnish: häiriö (fi) Russian: отвлечение (ru) (otvlečénje) n.

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, 1989

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French

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

distraction f. (plural distractions)

1. distraction
2. entertainment

Related terms

• distraire