/ rɪˈməʊt; NAmE rɪˈmoʊt/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
( re·moter , re·mot·est )
PLACE
1.
remote (from sth) far away from places where other people live
SYN isolated :
a remote beach
one of the remotest areas of the world
The farmhouse is remote from any other buildings.
TIME
2.
[ only before noun ] far away in time
SYN distant :
in the remote past / future
a remote ancestor (= who lived a long time ago)
RELATIVES
3.
[ only before noun ] ( of people ) not closely related
SYN distant :
a remote cousin
COMPUTER / SYSTEM
4.
that you can connect to from far away, using an electronic link :
a remote terminal / database
DIFFERENT
5.
remote (from sth) very different from sth :
His theories are somewhat remote from reality.
NOT FRIENDLY
6.
( of people or their behaviour ) not very friendly or interested in other people
SYN aloof , distant
VERY SMALL
7.
not very great
SYN slight :
There is still a remote chance that they will find her alive.
I don't have the remotest idea what you're talking about.
► re·mote·ness noun [ U ]:
the geographical remoteness of the island
His remoteness made her feel unloved.
■ noun
( informal ) = remote control
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense far apart ): from Latin remotus removed, past participle of removere , from re- back + movere to move.