I. də̇ˈstribyət, -i(ˌ)byüt, also -_bə̇t; usu -d.+V; Brit often ˈdistriˌbyüt verb
( distributed -yəd.ə̇d, -yətə̇d ; distributed “ ; distributing -yəd.iŋ, -yətiŋ ; distributes -yəts, -yüts)
Etymology: Middle English distributen, from Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere, from dis- dis- (I) + tribuere to give, allot — more at tribute
transitive verb
1.
a. : to divide among several or many : deal out : apportion especially to members of a group or over a period of time : allot
the American Relief Administration distributed nearly five million tons of foodstuffs — Current Biography
the problem of how to distribute taxes equitably among the various economic groups — Collier's Year Book
precipitation is not ample, but is distributed throughout the year — G.G.Weigend
b. : dispense , administer
distribute justice
lamented that the great fields of private law, where justice is distributed between man and man, should be left without a caretaker — B.N.Cardozo
2.
a. : to spread out or scatter so as to cover a surface or a space
distributing the seed over the lawn
distributing the ink evenly over the print
also : to give out or deliver especially to the members of a group
distributing magazines to subscribers
the U.N. secretariat, which distributed a 125-page questionnaire to member governments — Current Biography
b. : to place or position usually so as to be properly apportioned over or throughout an area
the blood vessels distributed throughout the arm
he seems chunkier than the 175 pounds distributed over his five feet ten inches would indicate — W.B.Furlong
the various factories distributed throughout the city — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
a widely distributed company — Marquis James
our Indians are not evenly distributed — Juan Comas
c. logic : to use (a term) so as to convey information about every member of the class named
the proposition “all men are mortal” distributes a universal affirmative subject, here “man”, but does not distribute the predicate
3.
a. : to divide or separate especially into classes, orders, kinds, or species : classify , assort
spend a good deal of time distributing his specimens into their proper classes
b.
(1) : to separate the units of (as typeset matter or handset matrices) and return to the proper storage places
(2) of a keyboard slugcasting machine : to return (matrices) automatically to the proper magazine channels
4. : to market (a commodity) under a franchise in a particular area especially at wholesale
intransitive verb
: to make distribution : spread out
Synonyms:
distribute , dispense , divide , deal , and dole can agree in meaning to give out, usually in shares, to each person or thing of a group of persons or things. distribute implies (1) an apportioning of something among many by separating it into parts, units, or amounts and assigning each part, etc., to its appropriate person or place or (2) a spreading or scattering of something more or less evenly over an area
distribute their possessions among their children
distribute profits among corporation members
distribute different size nails to their appropriate containers
distribute loam over a lawn
dispense carries no strong implication, as does distribute , of the lessening of a whole by subdivision or scattering but suggests a giving of a carefully weighed and measured portion as a right or due, or in answer to a need
dispense drugs to plague victims
the host is dispensing drinks — Agnes M. Miall
he liberally dispensed hospitality to all … with whom he came into contact — E.H.Collis
dispense justice
dispense charity
divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts in order to dispense to or share among each of a group, equality of shares usually being implied in default of other specification
divide a cake among 10 guests
divide profits evenly among themselves
divide the spoils of war
deal , usually with out, stresses a giving out piece by piece or in suitable portions
deal out the day's ration of water
deal out paper plates to the picnickers
dole , frequently with out, still often implies a dispensing of alms to the needy but more commonly now suggests merely a dispensing in scanty, usually niggardly, portions
mother collects the paychecks and doles out allowances to all hands — J.H.Fenton
there cannot be in this republic any class of human beings in practical subjection to another class, with power in the latter to dole out to the former just such privileges as they may choose to grant — O.K.Fraenkel
a prince doling out favors to a servile group of petitioners — Theodore Dreiser
II. transitive verb
: to use in or as an operation so as to be mathematically distributive
addition is not distributed over multiplication
intransitive verb
: to be mathematically distributive
multiplication distributes over addition