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Webster 1913 Edition

Distribute

Dis-trib′ute

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Distributed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Distributing
.]
[L.
distributus
, p. p. of
distribuere
to divide, distribute;
dis-
+
tribuere
to assign, give, allot. See
Tribute
.]
1.
To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to allot.
She did
distribute
her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred.
Judith xvi. 24.
2.
To dispense; to administer;
as, to
distribute
justice
.
Shak.
3.
To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.
4.
(Printing)
(a)
To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases.
(b)
To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.
5.
(Logic)
To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.
Syn. – To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share; assign; divide.

Dis-trib′ute

,
Verb.
I.
To make distribution.
Distributing
to the necessity of saints.
Rom. xii. 13.

Webster 1828 Edition

Distribute

DISTRIBUTE

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to give or divide.]
1.
To divide among two or more; to deal; to give or bestow in parts or portions. Moses distributed lands to the tribes of Israel. Christ distributed the loaves to his disciples.
2.
To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice.
3.
To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds or species.
4.
To give in charity.
Distributing to the necessities of the saints. Romans 12.
5.
In printing, to separate types, and place them in their proper cells in the cases.

Definition 2024

distribute

distribute

English

Verb

distribute ‎(third-person singular simple present distributes, present participle distributing, simple past and past participle distributed)

  1. (transitive) To divide into portions and dispense.
    He distributed the bread amongst his followers.
  2. (transitive) To supply to retail outlets.
    The agency distributes newspapers to local shops.
  3. (transitive) To deliver or pass out.
    A network of children distributes flyers to every house.
  4. (transitive) To scatter or spread.
    I raked the soil then distributed grass seed.
  5. (transitive) To apportion (more or less evenly).
    The robot's six legs distributed its weight over a wide area.
  6. (transitive) To classify or separate into categories.
    The database distributed verbs into transitive and intransitive segments.
  7. (intransitive, mathematics) To be distributive.
  8. (printing) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases.
  9. (printing) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.
  10. (logic) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.
    • Whately
      A term is said to be distributed when it is taken universal, so as to stand for everything it is capable of being applied to.

Translations

Derived terms

External links

  • distribute in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • distribute in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: wonderful · shook · fit · #945: distribute · ordinary · forms · complete

Anagrams

Latin

Etymology

From distribūtus, participle of distribuō ‎(“distribute, apportion”)

Adverb

distribūtē ‎(comparable distribūtius, superlative distribūtissimē)

  1. orderly, methodically

Related terms

References

  • distribute in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, 1st edition. (Oxford University Press)

Etymology

From Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere ‎(“to divide, distribute”), from dis- ‎(“apart”) + tribuere ‎(“to give, impart”); see tribute.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɪsˈtɹɪbjut/
  • Hyphenation: dis‧trib‧ute

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