Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Distribution
Disˊtri-bu′tion
,Noun.
[L.
distributio
: cf. F. distribution
.] 1.
The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or apportioning among several or many; apportionment;
as, the
. distribution
of an estate among heirs or childrenThe phenomena of geological
distribution
are exactly analogous to those of geography. A. R. Wallace.
2.
Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything into parts; disposition; classification.
3.
That which is distributed.
“Our charitable distributions.” Atterbury.
4.
(Logic)
A resolving a whole into its parts.
5.
(Print.)
The sorting of types and placing them in their proper boxes in the cases.
6.
(Steam Engine)
The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the next admission.
Syn. – Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal; dispersion; classification; arrangement.
Webster 1828 Edition
Distribution
DISTRIBUTION
,Noun.
1.
The act of dividing among a number; a dealing in parts or portions; as the distribution of an estate among heirs or children.2.
The act of giving in charity; a bestowing in parts.3.
Dispensation; administration to numbers; a rendering to individuals; as the distribution of justice.4.
The act of separating into distinct parts or classes; as the distribution of plants into genera and species.5.
In architecture, the dividing and disposing of the several parts of the building, according to some plan, or to the rules of the art.6.
In rhetoric, a division and enumeration of the several qualities of a subject.7.
In general, the division and disposition of the parts of any thing.8.
In printing, the taking a form apart; the separating of the types, and placing each letter in its proper cell in the cases.