Real Dictionary

distance
a substance, situation, or environment in which something has its origin, takes form, or is enclosed [...]
Distance learning or distance education involves studying at home and sending your work to a college or university, rather than attending the college or university in person.
the intervening space between two points or things [...]
uncountable noun: When two things are very far apart, you talk about the distance between them.
uncountable noun: When you want to emphasize that two people or things do not have a close relationship or are not the same, you can refer to the distance between them.
variable noun: The distance between two points or places is the amount of space between them.