mile
Pronounced:
/ˈmajəl/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural milesMeaning:
1 [count] : a unit of measurement equal to 5,280 feet (about 1,609 meters) ▪ How many miles is it from here to New York? = How far is it from here to New York in miles? ▪ We passed mile after mile of beautiful scenery as we drove through the country. ▪ We traveled over miles of dirt road. ▪ He lives about a half (a) mile from here. ▪ The car was traveling at 70 miles per/an hour. —often used figuratively ▪ He won the election by a mile. [=he won the election by a very large margin] ▪ He missed the target by a mile. [=he completely missed the target] ▪ Her smile was a mile wide. ▪ You can see the stain (from) a mile away. = (Brit) You can see the stain a mile off. ▪ She was talking a mile a minute. [=very fast] ▪ The twin's resemblance stood/stuck out a mile. [=the resemblance was very obvious] —see also nautical mile
2 miles [plural] : a great distance ▪ They walked for miles. ▪ There was no one (to be seen) for miles around. ▪ We were miles from home. ▪ We still have miles to go. ▪ The beach stretched on for miles and miles. ▪ He lives by himself in a cabin miles from nowhere/anywhere. [=very far from other people and places] —often used figuratively ▪ He was miles ahead of the other students in his class. ▪ Politically he's now miles away from his original position. ▪ She feels as if her sister is miles beyond her in education. ▪ They're still miles from an agreement. —see also miles
3 [singular] : a race that is a mile long ▪ the first man to run a four-minute mile [=the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes]
2 miles [plural] : a great distance ▪ They walked for miles. ▪ There was no one (to be seen) for miles around. ▪ We were miles from home. ▪ We still have miles to go. ▪ The beach stretched on for miles and miles. ▪ He lives by himself in a cabin miles from nowhere/anywhere. [=very far from other people and places] —often used figuratively ▪ He was miles ahead of the other students in his class. ▪ Politically he's now miles away from his original position. ▪ She feels as if her sister is miles beyond her in education. ▪ They're still miles from an agreement. —see also miles
3 [singular] : a race that is a mile long ▪ the first man to run a four-minute mile [=the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes]
go the extra mile
: to do more than you are required to do ▪ She's always willing to go the extra mile to help a friend.