distract

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   draw someone's attention away from something

   The thief distracted the bystanders

2. 2
   verb

   To divert the attention of.

   The crowd was distracted by a helicopter hovering over the stadium when the only goal of the game was scored.

3. 3
   verb

   To divert (attention).

   It is recorded in the Talmud that there was no water organ [...] at the Temple, because of its sweet and powerful voice which was able to distract attention from the traditional instruments.

4. 4
   verb

   To make crazy or insane; to drive to distraction.

   By Heav’ns, ſuch Virtues, join’d with ſuch Succeſs, Diſtract my very Soul: Our Father’s Fortune Wou’d almoſt tempt us to renounce his Precepts.

5. 5
   adj

   Insane, mad.

   Ol[ivia]. […] Fetch Maluolio hither, / And yet alas, novv I remember me, / They ſay poore Gentleman, he's much diſtract. […] Did he vvrite this? / Clo[wn]. I [aye] Madame. / Du[ke Orsino]. This ſauours not much of diſtraction.

6. 6
   verb

   disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed

7. 7
   adj

   Drawn asunder; separated.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin distractus, from distrahō (“to pull apart”), from dis- + trahō (“to pull”).