verb (used with object),dis·trib·ut·ed,dis·trib·ut·ing.
to divide and give out in shares; deal out; allot.
to disperse through a space or over an area; spread; scatter.
to promote, sell, and ship or deliver (an item or line of merchandise) to individual customers, especially in a specified region or area.
to pass out or deliver (mail, newspapers, etc.) to intended recipients.
to divide into distinct phases: The process was distributed into three stages.
to divide into classes: These plants are distributed into 22 classes.
Logic. to employ (a term) in a proposition so as to refer to all individuals denoted by the term.
Physical Chemistry. to dissolve uniformly in a solvent consisting of layers of immiscible or partially miscible substances.
Printing.
to roll out (ink) on the table to attain the proper consistency.
to return (type) to the proper place after printing.
Origin of distribute
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin distribūtus, past participle of distribuere “to divide up”; see dis-1, tribute
SYNONYMS FOR distribute
1 assign, mete, apportion.
6 classify, sort, arrange, categorize.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR distribute ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for distribute
1. Distribute,dispense apply to giving out something. Distribute implies apportioned, individualized giving, especially of something that is definite or limited in amount or number: The prizes were distributed among ten winners.Dispense formerly implied indiscriminate, general, and liberal giving, especially of something that was more or less indefinite or unmeasured in amount: to dispense largess. It now applies chiefly to giving according to need or deserts, from an organized and official source: to dispense medicines and food to the victims.
OTHER WORDS FROM distribute
dis·trib·ut·a·ble,adjectivepre·dis·trib·ute,verb (used with object),pre·dis·trib·ut·ed,pre·dis·trib·ut·ing.
Words nearby distribute
distress gun, distress merchandise, distress sale, distress signal, distributary, distribute, distributed, distributed array processor, distributed data processing, distributed logic, distributed practice
Biden also called for any potential vaccine to be equitably distributed.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Today, StarTech’s being managed a lot more conservatively than in 2015, as shown by the share of earnings it’s distributing instead of re-investing.
Will tech stocks stumble or slide? What the fundamentals tell us|Shawn Tully|September 16, 2020|Fortune
This lightweight vest is made from comfy neoprene material and has an ergonomic design, so the weights are distributed equally.
The best weighted vests for your next tough workout|PopSci Commerce Team|September 16, 2020|Popular Science
States and local communities will need to devise precise plans for receiving and locally distributing vaccines, some of which will require special handling such as refrigeration or freezing.
U.S. outlines sweeping plan to provide free COVID-19 vaccines|Rachel Schallom|September 16, 2020|Fortune
“Claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing, I think, is problematic, at best,” Fauci said.
China’s controversial emergency-use program for COVID vaccines is going global|Grady McGregor|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Surenos are told when to workout, who to associate with and how to distribute any funds they make from illegal activity.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pinch it with your fingers until it makes large crumbles and distribute it on the berries (it will not cover them entirely).
The Barefoot Contessa Knows How To Make Us Crumble|Ina Garten|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To be sure, it had plenty of big newspaper plants, but could we bring our papers back to Baltimore in time to distribute them?
The Stacks: H.L. Mencken on the 1904 Baltimore Fire|H.L. Mencken|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rather than focus on building large centralized plants, why not distribute solar power across a bunch of rooftops?
He blanched when it came time to plunge, invest the money, press, and distribute.
The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters|Alex Belth|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But immediately after making this pious pact they began to distribute among themselves the spoils of war.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell
Bernardo immediately set to work to distribute his fortune among the poor.
Life of St. Francis of Assisi|Paul Sabatier
Captain Mayo had declared that he knew where to find faithful workers when it came time to distribute jobs.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
Socialism does not propose to abolish property or distribute wealth.
Twentieth Century Socialism|Edmond Kelly
Don't get the idea that Dick is going to distribute five-dollar gold pieces along the route, Simon.
Dick Hamilton's Fortune|Howard R. Garis
British Dictionary definitions for distribute
distribute
/ (dɪˈstrɪbjuːt) /
verb(tr)
to give out in shares; dispense
to hand out or deliverto distribute handbills
(often passive)to spread throughout a space or areagulls are distributed along the west coast
(often passive)to divide into classes or categories; classifythese books are distributed in four main categories
printingto return (used type) to the correct positions in the type case
logicto incorporate in a distributed term of a categorial proposition
mathslogicto expand an expression containing two operators in such a way that the precedence of the operators is changed; for example, distributing multiplication over addition in a (b + c) yields ab + ac
obsoleteto dispense (justice)
Derived forms of distribute
distributable, adjective
Word Origin for distribute
C15: from Latin distribuere from dis-1 + tribuere to give