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distributed

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
dis·trib·ute  (d-strbyt)
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, distribt- : 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.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.distributed - spread out or scattered about or divided up
distributive - serving to distribute or allot or disperse
concentrated - gathered together or made less diffuse; "their concentrated efforts"; "his concentrated attention"; "concentrated study"; "a narrow thread of concentrated ore"

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The courts decided that Williamson was dead, and his estate was distributed according to law.
One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it.
The main bulk of the trade goods, which was not distributed, Bashti had carried up to his own large grass house.
 
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