[syn: stagger, distribute]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Distribute \Dis*trib"ute\, v. i.
To make distribution.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Distribute \Dis*trib"ute\, v. 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.
[1913 Webster]
She did distribute her goods to all them that were
nearest of kindred. --Judith xvi.
24.
[1913 Webster]
2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or
species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters,
etc.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Logic) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as
universal in one premise.
[1913 Webster]
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. --Whately.
Syn: To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share; assign;
divide.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
distribute
v 1: administer or bestow, as in small portions; "administer
critical remarks to everyone present"; "dole out some
money"; "shell out pocket money for the children"; "deal a
blow to someone"; "the machine dispenses soft drinks" [syn:
distribute, administer, mete out, deal, parcel
out, lot, dispense, shell out, deal out, dish
out, allot, dole out]
2: distribute or disperse widely; "The invaders spread their
language all over the country" [syn: spread, distribute]
[ant: collect, garner, gather, pull together]
3: make available; "The publisher wants to distribute the book
in Asia"
4: give to several people; "The teacher handed out the exams"
[syn: distribute, give out, hand out, pass out]
5: cause be distributed; "This letter is being circulated among
the faculty" [syn: circulate, pass around, pass on,
distribute]
6: cause to become widely known; "spread information";
"circulate a rumor"; "broadcast the news" [syn: circulate,
circularize, circularise, distribute, disseminate,
propagate, broadcast, spread, diffuse, disperse,
pass around]
7: spread throughout a given area; "the function distributes the
values evenly"
8: be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses; "Values
distribute"
9: be mathematically distributive
10: to arrange in a systematic order; "stagger the chairs in the
lecture hall" [syn: stagger, distribute]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
106 Moby Thesaurus words for "distribute":
administer, align, allocate, allot, apportion, arrange, array,
assign, assort, bestow, bestrew, broadcast, categorize, circulate,
circumfuse, class, classify, collocate, come across with, compose,
convey, deal, deal out, deliver, deliver over, diffract, diffuse,
disburse, dish out, dispense, disperse, dispose, dispread,
disseminate, diverge, divide, divide up, dole, dole out, donate,
dribble, fan out, file, fix, fork over, forward, give, give in,
give out, give over, group, hand, hand in, hand out, hand over,
issue, line, line up, marshal, measure out, mete, mete out, order,
overscatter, oversow, overspread, parcel, parcel out, partition,
pass, pass around, pass out, pass over, pay out, place, portion,
portion out, present, propagate, prorate, publish, radiate, rally,
range, ration, reach, regiment, render, resign, retail, scatter,
set out, share out, sort, sow, sow broadcast, space, splay,
spoon out, spread, spread out, strew, surrender, transfer,
turn over, utter