distraction

 
Pronunciation: /dɪˈstrakʃ(ə)n/

noun

  • 1a thing that prevents someone from concentrating on something else: the firm found passenger travel a distraction from the main business of moving freight
  • a diversion or recreation: there are plenty of distractions such as sailing [mass noun]: he roved the district in search of distraction
  • 2 [mass noun] extreme agitation of the mind: her uncharacteristic air of distraction

Phrases

to distraction

almost to a state of madness: she loved him to distraction

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin distractio(n-), from the verb distrahere (see distract)