The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Distribution \Dis`tri*bu"tion\, n. [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 children.
      [1913 Webster]

            The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly
            analogous to those of geography.      --A. R.
                                                  Wallace.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything
      into parts; disposition; classification.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. That which is distributed. "Our charitable distributions."
      --Atterbury.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Logic) A resolving a whole into its parts.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. (Print.) The sorting of types and placing them in their
      proper boxes in the cases.
      [1913 Webster]

   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      supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke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.
      [1913 Webster]

   Geographical distribution, the natural arrangements of
      animals and plants in particular regions or districts.

   Syn: Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal;
        dispersion; classification; arrangement.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

distribution
    n 1: (statistics) an arrangement of values of a variable showing
         their observed or theoretical frequency of occurrence [syn:
         distribution, statistical distribution]
    2: the spatial or geographic property of being scattered about
       over a range, area, or volume; "worldwide in distribution";
       "the distribution of nerve fibers"; "in complementary
       distribution" [syn: distribution, dispersion] [ant:
       compactness, concentration, denseness, density,
       tightness]
    3: the act of distributing or spreading or apportioning
    4: the commercial activity of transporting and selling goods
       from a producer to a consumer

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

distribution

   1.  A software source tree packaged for
   distribution; but see kit.

   2.  A vague term encompassing mailing lists and
   Usenet newsgroups (but not BBS fora); any
   topic-oriented message channel with multiple recipients.

   3.  An information-space domain (usually loosely
   correlated with geography) to which propagation of a Usenet
   message is restricted; a much-underused feature.

   [Jargon File]


The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

distribution
 n.

    1. A software source tree packaged for distribution; but see kit. Since
    about 1996 unqualified use of this term often implies ‘Linux
    distribution’. The short form distro is often used for this sense.

    2. A vague term encompassing mailing lists and Usenet newsgroups (but not 
    BBS fora); any topic-oriented message channel with multiple recipients.

    3. An information-space domain (usually loosely correlated with geography)
    to which propagation of a Usenet message is restricted; a
    much-underutilized feature.