Definition

Noun 1. A telephone call made to a location outside the local calling area, typically involving a charge. This refers to the service or act of telephoning over a significant geographical distance. 2. (Attributive use) Denoting a service, carrier, or call involving communication over a great distance. Often used as a modifier before another noun (e.g., long-distance call, long-distance carrier).

Usage and Examples

• Noun (as a direct object): "I need to make a long distance." (This usage is less common in modern English).
• Noun (in prepositional phrases): "We spoke by long distance." / "I talked to her on long distance."
• Attributive Adjective (most common modern usage): "I received a long-distance phone call from my family." / "She works for a long-distance carrier." / "They are in a long-distance relationship."

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term originated in the era of landline telephony to distinguish calls that incurred higher toll charges from local calls. While still used, the concept is less distinct in the age of mobile phones and bundled calling plans.
• When used as an attributive adjective (before a noun), it is typically hyphenated: long-distance.
• The phrase "long distance" can metaphorically describe any relationship or interaction maintained over a great physical separation, most notably in "long-distance relationship."

Variants and Related Words

• Long-distance (adj): As described above, the hyphenated form used before a noun.
• LD (abbreviation): An informal or technical abbreviation, e.g., "LD charges" on an old phone bill.
• Toll call (noun): A near-synonym, now largely archaic, emphasizing the charge aspect.

Synonyms

• Toll call
• Trunk call (chiefly British English)
• Distance call

Antonyms

• Local call

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Long-distance relationship: A romantic relationship between partners who live far apart and cannot see each other regularly.
  • Example: "They made their long-distance relationship work for two years before finally moving to the same city."
• To go the long distance: An idiom from sports (like boxing) meaning to persist and complete a difficult task. This is a separate idiom from the telecommunications term.
  • Example: "It was a tough project, but our team is prepared to go the long distance."

Noun

1. a telephone call made outside the local calling area
   • I talked to her by long distance