dis·trib·ute (d -strb y t)v. dis·trib·ut·ed, dis·trib·ut·ing, dis·trib·utes v.tr.1. To divide and dispense in portions. 2. a. To supply (goods) to retailers. b. To deliver or pass out: distributing handbills on the street. 3. a. To spread or diffuse over an area; scatter: distribute grass seed over the lawn. b. To apportion so as to be evenly spread throughout a given area: 180 pounds of muscle that were well distributed over his 6-foot frame. 4. To separate into categories; classify. 5. Logic To use (a term) so as to include all individuals or entities of a given class. v.intr. Mathematics To be distributive.
[Middle English distributen, from Latin distribuere, distrib t- : dis-, apart; see dis- + tribuere, to give; see tribute.] Synonyms: distribute, divide, dispense, dole1, deal1, ration
These verbs mean to give out in portions or shares. Distribute is the least specific: The government distributed land to settlers.
Divide implies giving out portions, often equal, on the basis of a plan or purpose: The estate will be divided among the heirs.
Dispense stresses the careful determination of portions, often according to measurement or weight: The pharmacist dispensed the medication.
Dole, often followed by out, implies careful, usually sparing measurement of portions. It can refer to the distribution of charity: The city doled out surplus milk to the needy.
It can also suggest lack of generosity: The professor doled out meager praise to the students.
Deal implies orderly, equitable distribution, often piece by piece: I dealt five cards to each player.
Ration refers to equitable division in limited portions of scarce, often necessary, items: The government rationed fuel during the war. |
distribute Verb [-uting, -uted] 1. to hand out or deliver (leaflets, mail, etc.) 2. to share (something) among the members of a particular group [Latin distribuere]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | distribute - administer or bestow, as in small portions; "administer critical remarks to everyone present"; "dole out some money"; "shell out pocket money for the children"; "deal a blow to someone"; "the machine dispenses soft drinks"deal out, dish out, dispense, dole out, mete out, parcel out, shell out, lot, administer, allot, deal give - transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody; "I gave her my money"; "can you give me lessons?"; "She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care" reallot - allot again; "They were realloted additional farm land" deal - distribute cards to the players in a game; "Who's dealing?" apply, give - give or convey physically; "She gave him First Aid"; "I gave him a punch in the nose" | | 2. | distribute - distribute or disperse widely; "The invaders spread their language all over the country"generalise, generalize - become systemic and spread throughout the body; "this kind of infection generalizes throughout the immune system" metastasise, metastasize - spread throughout the body; "the cancer had metastasized and the patient could not be saved" discharge - pour forth or release; "discharge liquids" strew, straw - spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic); "strew toys all over the carpet" export - cause to spread in another part of the world; "The Russians exported Marxism to Africa" propagate - transmit or cause to broaden or spread; "This great civilization was propagated throughout the land" deploy - to distribute systematically or strategically; "The U.S. deploys its weapons in the Middle East" redistribute - distribute anew; "redistribute the troops more strategically" sprawl, straggle - go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way; "Branches straggling out quite far" | | 3. | distribute - make available; "The publisher wants to distribute the book in Asia"transfer - cause to change ownership; "I transferred my stock holdings to my children" issue, supply - circulate or distribute or equip with; "issue a new uniform to the children"; "supply blankets for the beds" reticulate - distribute by a network, as of water or electricity | | 4. | distribute - give to several people; "The teacher handed out the exams"gift, present, give - give as a present; make a gift of; "What will you give her for her birthday?" | | 5. | distribute - cause be distributed; "This letter is being circulated among the faculty"move, displace - cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant" send around - forward to others; "he is sending around an appeal for funds" utter - put into circulation; "utter counterfeit currency" spread out, scatter, spread - strew or distribute over an area; "He spread fertilizer over the lawn"; "scatter cards across the table" | | 6. | distribute - cause to become widely known; "spread information"; "circulate a rumor"; "broadcast the news"podcast - distribute (multimedia files) over the internet for playback on a mobile device or a personal computer sow - introduce into an environment; "sow suspicion or beliefs" circulate, go around, spread - become widely known and passed on; "the rumor spread"; "the story went around in the office" carry, run - include as the content; broadcast or publicize; "We ran the ad three times"; "This paper carries a restaurant review"; "All major networks carried the press conference" | | 7. | distribute - spread throughout a given area; "the function distributes the values evenly"spread out, scatter, spread - strew or distribute over an area; "He spread fertilizer over the lawn"; "scatter cards across the table" distribute - be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses; "Values distribute" | | 8. | distribute - be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses; "Values distribute"exist, be - have an existence, be extant; "Is there a God?" distribute - spread throughout a given area; "the function distributes the values evenly" | | 9. | distribute - be mathematically distributivebe - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" | | 10. | distribute - to arrange in a systematic order; "stagger the chairs in the lecture hall"arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order" |
distribute verb 3. share, give, deal, divide, assign, administer, allocate, dispose, dispense, allot, mete out, dole out, apportion, measure out  Translations
|
|
distribute [dɪsˈtrɪbjuːt] vt (gen) → distribuir (= share out); repartir
distribute [dɪsˈtrɪbjuːt] vt → distribuer
distribute [dɪsˈtrɪbjuːt] vt → verteilen;
distribute [dɪsˈtrɪbjuːt] vt → distribuire
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
distribute
