Meaning of distribute in English

Table of contents

Verb
distribute
Etymology
late Middle English: from Latin distribut-‘divided up’, from the verb distribuere, from dis-‘apart’ + tribuere‘assign’
Definitions
1. administer or bestow, as in small portions
Examples
- « administer critical remarks to everyone present »
- « dole out some money »
- « shell out pocket money for the children »
- « deal a blow to someone »
Derived terms
2. distribute or disperse widely
Examples
- « The invaders spread their language all over the country »
Antonyms
Derived terms
3. make available
Examples
- « The publisher wants to distribute the book in Asia »
Derived terms
4. give out
Examples
- « The teacher handed out the exams »
5. cause to be distributed
Examples
- « This letter is circulating among the faculty »
Derived terms
6. cause to become widely known
Examples
- « spread information »
- « circulate a rumor »
- « broadcast the news »
Derived terms
7. spread throughout a given area
Examples
- « the function distributes the values evenly »
8. be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses
Examples
- « Values distribute »
9. be mathematically distributive
10. to arrange in a systematic order
Examples
- « stagger the chairs in the lecture hall »

Famous quotes

« An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others. »
Aiden Wilson Tozer
« Age is not measured by years. Nature does not equally distribute energy. Some people are born old and tired while others are going strong at seventy. »
Dorothy Thompson
« In politics women type the letters, lick the stamps, distribute the pamphlets and get out the vote. Men get elected. »
Clare Boothe Luce
« Books that distribute things... with as daring a freedom as we use in dreams, put us on our feet again. »
Marsilio Ficino