DIMENSIONS: MEASURE / Proportion
Implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts
R E F E R E N C E S
Distibute bv -uted; uting [ME, fr. L distributus, pp. of distribuere, fr. dis- + tribuere to alot -more at Tribute] vt [15c] 1: to divide among several or many: Apportion [__ expenses] 2a: to spread out so as to cover something: Scatter b: to give out or deliver esp. to members of a group [__ newspapers] [__ leaflets] c: to place or position so as to be properly apportioned over or throughout an area [200 pounds distributed on a 6-foot frame] d: to use [a term] so as to convey information about every member of the class named [the proposition "all men are mortal" --s "man" but not "mortal"] 3a: to divide or separate esp. into kinds b: to return the units of [as typeset matter] to storage 4: to use in or as an operation so as to be mathematically distributive -vi: to be mathematically distributive [multiplication --s over addition]
-syn Distribute, Dispense, Divide, Deal, Dole Out mean to give out, usu. in shares, to each member of a group. Distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts [distributed food to the needy]. Dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need [dispersed wisdom to the students]. Divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal [three charitable groups divided the proceeds]. Deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece [deal out equipment and supplies]. Dole Out implies a carefully measured portinn that is often scant or niggardly [doled out what little food there was].
Distributive adj [15c] 1: of or relating to distribution: as a: dealing a proper share to each of a group b: diffusing more or less evenly 2 of a word: referring singly and without exception to the members of a group [each, either, and none are __] 3a: being an operation [as multiplication in a(b + c) = ab + ac] that produces the same result when operating on the whole mathematical expression as when operating on each part and collecting the results b: being or relating to a rule or property concerning a disributive operation [the __ property of multiplication with respect to addition] - distributively adv -distributivity n
[Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition. Springfield, MA, USA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 1995.]
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