- dis|trib|ute
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1. to give some of to each; divide and give out in shares; deal out: »
Mother distributed candy among the children. The teacher distributed paper to each member of the class.
2. to spread; scatter: »A painter should distribute the paint evenly over the wall.
SYNONYM(S): disperse.3. to divide into parts or groups: »The children were distributed into small groups for the trip to the museum. The Life Guards … were then distributed into three troops (Macaulay).
4. to put each in its place; sort out; arrange; classify: »A mail clerk distributes mail when he puts each letter into the proper bag. The flowering plants are distributed into over 20 well-marked classes.
SYNONYM(S): sort.5. to sell (goods) to a particular market.6. Logic. to use (a term) so that it includes every member of a class. Example: dogs in the sentence “All dogs are animals.”7. Printing. to take apart and return (composed type) to the proper compartments in the case.8. Obsolete. to administer (justice).╂[< Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere < dis- apart, individually + tribuere assign]Synonym Study 1 Distribute, dispense mean to give something to each of several people. Distribute implies dividing it among them in definite though not necessarily equal shares: »The dividends were distributed to the stockholders.
Dispense implies measuring it out among them according to their needs or deserts: »The club dispensed new clothing to the children in the orphanage.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
