Dictionary
Thesaurus
Sentence Examples

Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » distribute

distribute

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Distribute is defined as to divide, scatter or hand out.

(verb)

An example of distribute is to give a handout to each student in the class.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See distribute in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb distributed, distributing

to divide and give out in shares; allot
to scatter or spread out, as over a surface
to divide and arrange according to a classification; classify
to put (things) in various distinct places
Obsolete to administer, as justice
Printing to break up (set type) and put the letters back in the proper boxes
Law to apportion (an intestate's property) to those entitled to it
Logic to use (a term) in such a way as to refer to all members of its extension

Origin: ME distributen < L distributus, pp. of distribuere, to distribute < dis-, apart + tribuere, to allot: see tribute

Related Forms:

distributable adjective

See distribute in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb dis·trib·ut·ed, dis·trib·ut·ing, dis·trib·utes

verb, transitive

To divide and dispense in portions.
a. To supply (goods) to retailers.
b. To deliver or pass out: distributing handbills on the street.
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.
To separate into categories; classify.
Logic To use (a term) so as to include all individuals or entities of a given class.

verb, intransitive

Mathematics To be distributive.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English distributen

Origin: , from Latin distribuere, distribūt-

Origin: : dis-, apart; see dis-

Origin: + tribuere, to give; see tribute

.

Learn more about distribute

distribute synonyms

distribute investment & finance

distribute in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

» more results...

distributed processing

distribution class

distribution ratio

distributive education

About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Help
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.