mile

/maIl/ noun (C)

1 a unit for measuring distance or length, equal to 1609 metres

2 the mile a race that is a mile in length: the world record holder in the mile

3 miles informal a very long distance: We were miles from home, and very tired. | for miles (=for a very long distance): You can see for miles from the top of the hill. | miles from anywhere/nowhere (=a long way from the nearest town or city): They lived in a little cottage miles from nowhere.

4 go the extra mile to try a little harder in order to achieve something, after you have already used a lot of effort: Neither of the negotiating teams seems willing to go the extra mile.

5 sth sticks out/stands out a mile also you can tell sth a mile away/off informal used to say that something is very clear from someone's appearance or behaviour: It's obvious she's English - you can tell it a mile away.

6 talk a mile a minute to speak very quickly without stopping

7 be miles away spoken to not be paying attention to anything that is happening around you: "Kate!" "Sorry, I was miles away!"

8 miles older/better/too difficult etc BrE informal very much older, better, too difficult etc: You're going out with John? But he's miles older than you!

9 miles out BrE informal a measurement, guess, or calculation that is miles out is completely wrong

—see also: nautical mile, run a mile run 1 (47), a miss is as good as a mile miss 2 (8)