distribute
//dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt//
Forms
- present (v1)
- distribute
- past (v2)
- distributed
- past participle (v3)
- distributed
- present participle
- distributing
- 3rd person singular
- distributes
Definitions
1.To divide into portions and dispense.
- He distributed the bread amongst his followers.
2.To supply to retail outlets.
- The agency distributes newspapers to local shops.
3.To deliver or pass out.
- A network of children distributes flyers to every house.
- Datacasting bypasses the wired, terrestrial Internet and is a cheaper way to distribute software than pressing and mailing CDs.
4.To scatter or spread.
- I raked the soil then distributed grass seed.
- The air-handling equipment humidifies, dehumidifies, and distributes the correct amount of fresh air into every zone and eliminates all smoke, dust, and odors, with electric precipitrons.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3169
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
PIE word
*tréyes
From Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere (“to divide, distribute”), from dis- (“apart”) + tribuere (“to give, impart”); see tribute.