Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Covering or involving a great distance: Describes something that travels, operates, or relates to a considerable spatial separation between points.
   • Of or relating to telephone calls made over a considerable distance: Specifically describes telecommunications that connect non-local areas, typically involving higher charges or special operators.

Usage

• The adjective "long-distance" is used to modify nouns, indicating they are associated with or designed for great distances.
• It is commonly hyphenated, especially when used attributively before a noun (e.g., a long-distance call).
• It describes the nature of an activity, service, or person's role.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • She is a champion long-distance runner. (She specializes in races like marathons that cover many miles.)
  • We took a long-distance train across the country. (The train journey spanned a great distance.)
  • Please make a long-distance call to the office in Tokyo. (This refers to a telephone call to a distant city or country.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go long-distance": This phrase is often used to describe a romantic relationship between partners who live far apart.
  • After college, they decided to go long-distance for a year.
• "long-distance relationship": A specific term for a romantic relationship where the partners are geographically separated.
  • Maintaining a long-distance relationship requires good communication.

Variants and Related Words

• Long-distance runner (noun phrase): An athlete who competes in races of long distances, such as marathons.
• Long-distance call (noun phrase): A telephone call made to a location outside the local calling area.
• Long-distance carrier (noun phrase): A telecommunications company that provides services for calls over long distances.

Synonyms

• Long-range: Having a great range or covering a long distance (often used for vehicles, plans, or communications).
• Intercity: Connecting cities (often used for transport).
• Toll call: A telephone call for which a charge is made, often synonymous with a long-distance call in some contexts.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

(Note: "Long-distance" is primarily an adjective and does not form standard phrasal verbs. The related phrases are fixed noun phrases or descriptive verbs.) - To run long-distance: To participate in the sport of long-distance running. - He started to run long-distance to improve his stamina.

Related Idioms

• Long-distance dedication: A phrase popularized by radio shows, referring to a song request sent by a listener to someone far away.
  • He heard their song on the radio's long-distance dedication segment.

Adjective

1. covering a long distance
   • a long-distance runner
   • a long-distance freight train
   • she ran off with a long-distance truck driver
2. of or relating to or being a long-distance telephone call
   • a long-distance call
   • a long-distance transmission line
   • a long-distance operator