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distract
To distract is defined as to draw someone's attention away from something and on to something else.
(verb)- When you talk to your friend in class, this is an example of a situation where you distract your friend from what the teacher is saying.
- When you avoid thinking about a problem by keeping busy, this is an example of a situation where you distract yourself from thinking about the problem.
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See distract in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to draw (the mind, attention, etc.) away in another direction; divert
- to draw in conflicting directions; create conflict or confusion in
- Obsolete to drive insane; craze
Origin: ME distracten < L distractus, pp. of distrahere, to draw apart < dis-, apart + trahere, draw
Related Forms:
- distractible adjective
- distracting adjective
- distractingly adverb
See distract in American Heritage Dictionary 4
transitive verb dis·tract·ed, dis·tract·ing, dis·tracts
- To cause to turn away from the original focus of attention or interest; divert.
- To pull in conflicting emotional directions; unsettle.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English distracten
Origin: , from Latin distrahere, distract-, to pull away
Origin: : dis-, apart; see dis-
Origin: + trahere, to draw
.Related Forms:
- dis·tractˌi·bilˈi·ty noun
- dis·tractˈi·ble adjective
- dis·tractˈing·ly adverb
- dis·tracˈtive adjective
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