distributedis‧trib‧ute /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/ ●●○ W2 AWL verb [transitive] 
Clothes and blankets have been distributed among the refugees. a man distributing leaflets to passers-by► see thesaurus at give2to supply goods to shops and companies so that they can sell them: Milk is distributed to the local shops by Herald’s Dairies.3to spread something over a large area: Make sure the weight of the load is evenly distributed.4be distributed to exist in different parts of an area or groupbe widely/evenly distributed This species of dolphin is widely distributed throughout the world. The population is distributed in a very uneven pattern.
WORD ORIGINdistribute
Origin:
1400-1500 Latin distribuere ‘to give out’, from tribuere ‘to give to a particular person’VERB TABLE
distribute
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | distribute |
| he, she, it | distributes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | distributed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have distributed |
| he, she, it | has distributed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had distributed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will distribute |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have distributed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am distributing |
| he, she, it | is distributing | |
| you, we, they | are distributing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was distributing |
| you, we, they | were distributing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been distributing |
| he, she, it | has been distributing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been distributing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be distributing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been distributing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Aid agencies are calling for local volunteers to help them distribute food and medicine.
- Copies of the report were distributed shortly after the meeting.
- Each panel distributes sound evenly in all directions.
- Medical supplies have been distributed among families affected by the epidemic.
- The National Science Foundation is responsible for distributing the grant money.
- The party's aim is to distribute power more evenly among the people.
- The Red Cross has started distributing food and blankets to villages in the flood area.
- The tape costs $19.95 and is distributed by American Video.
- We must try to distribute the country's wealth so that we help those who need it most.
- A handout or employee brochure with the basic facts can be distributed.
- If the receipt is distributed to shareholders as dividends then the capital base of the business has been eroded.
- If women were evenly distributed across the spectrum of employment, their pay levels would be much closer to those of men.
- So they constantly demanded changes in the structure of government in the district in order to distribute power-and taxes-more equably.
- These are widely distributed within the region.
- Your weight should be evenly distributed between both legs.
THESAURUSto give something to a group of people
to give something to each of the people in a group: · The teacher handed out the test papers.· I’m going to give out some forms for you to fill in.
to give things to a large number of people, especially in the streets: · Anti-war protesters were distributing leaflets.
(also share something out British English) to divide something into equal parts and give a part to each person: · They shared the profits among the staff.
Longman Language Activatorto give something to everyone in a group to give something to all the people in a group: hand out/give out something: · The princess plans to hand out gifts at a children's hospital tomorrow.· Don't start the test until I've finished giving out the question papers.hand/give out something to somebody: · Outside the embassy, students were handing out leaflets to everyone who walked past.hand/give something out: · I need some volunteers to hand programs out tonight.
also pass round British if a group of people pass something around , one person takes it and gives it to the next person, who then gives it to the next person: pass around something: · They passed around a list, and we each had to sign our name.pass something around: · Don't keep all the chocolates to yourself - pass them around!
to give things out to a large number of people, especially in an organized way: · Aid agencies are calling for local volunteers to help them distribute food and medicine.distribute something to somebody: · The Red Cross has started distributing food and blankets to villages in the flood area.distribute something among somebody: · Medical supplies have been distributed among families affected by the epidemic.
to divide something into equal parts and give a part to each person: share out something: · As long as they share out the profits fairly, everyone will be happy.share something out: · Take these cookies and share them out.share out something among/between somebody: · We've got three pizzas to share out between five people.· More than $1.7 million has been shared out among victims of the disaster.
also hand round British to go from person to person offering or politely giving them something such as a drink, food, etc: hand around something: · Dorothy was handing around coffee and biscuits when we arrived.· I'm handing round a summary of last week's lecture.hand something around: · Would you mind helping me hand the crackers around, please?
to give food and drinks to people, for example at a restaurant or a party: · Dinner will be served at 8.30.· Don't forget to serve the guests first.serve something to somebody: · We don't serve alcohol to anyone under 21.serve somebody with something: · As soon as they sat down, they were served with steaming bowls of soup.
to give something, especially food or money, to people who are waiting to receive it: dish/dole out something: · They want me to dress up as Santa Claus, and dish out presents at the kids' Christmas party.· The federal government doles out $58 billion in student grants every year.dish/dole something out: · Jo, would you dish the ice cream out?dish/dole out something to somebody: · Air stewardesses were doling out meals to the passengers.
to divide something so that two or more people get a part of it to divide something so that several people have a part of it: · We agreed that we would share the prize money if we won.share something among/between somebody: · She shared the cake between the children.share out something: · Profits from the sale of tickets were shared out among the members of the band.share something out: · We'll share what's left out between the three of us.
if a small number of people split something, especially money, they divide it into equal parts and take a part each: · They planned to rob a bank, split the money, and leave the country.split something among/between somebody: · He said that the land should be split between his four sons.split something two/three/four etc ways (=to divide something between two, three etc people): · I think we should split whatever we get four ways.
to separate something into two or more parts: divide something between somebody: · Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Poland between them.divide up something/divide something up between somebody: · We divided up the rest of the pie between us.divide up something/divide something up: · Have you decided how you're going to divide up the money?
to share something such as wealth or power among different people, groups, or organizations: · We must try to distribute the country's wealth so that we help those who need it most.· The party's aim is to distribute power more evenly among the people.
to share something, especially money, in a different way from before, so that more people have a fair share of it: · The socialists are committed to redistributing wealth.· The tax will be collected nationally and the money raised will be redistributed to local authorities.
if two or more people, organizations, or countries carve something up , especially land or a company belonging to someone else, they divide it into separate parts and share it between them: carve up something: · The British and French carved up the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I.carve something up: · The two companies wanted to acquire the business and carve it up.
WORD SETSafter-sales service, agro-industry, nounarcade, nounB2B exchange, nounB2C, adjectivebakery, nounbar code, nounbargain, nounbarrier to trade, nounbarrow, nounbazaar, nounbid, nounbid, verbbidding, nounbid-rigging, nounboard of directors, nounBOL, bonded factory, bookshop, nounbookstall, nounbookstore, nounbook token, nounboom, nounboom, verbboot sale, nounboutique, nounboxed, adjectivebreakdown clause, B/S, business agent, business interruption insurance, business liability insurance, buyback, nounbuyer, nounbuying power, C&F, callback, nouncarrying charge, cash and carry, nouncash basis, nouncash desk, nouncash discount, nouncash generation, cash price, cash register, nouncasualty insurance, CFI, CFR, chain store, nounchamber of trade, nouncheckout, nounCIF, CIP, clearance sale, nounclosed-door policy, nounComdex, nouncommercial agent, common ownership, comparative advantage, competitive advantage, competitive strategy, completion date, concessionaire, nounconsign, verbconsignee, nounconsignment, nounconsignor, nounconsolidator, nounconsumer, nounconsumer confidence, nounconsumerism, nounconsumer society, nouncontinuous improvement, conversion rate, corn exchange, nouncorporate investment, cost, nouncost price, nouncreative brief, credit, nouncredit account, nouncredit control, credit note, nouncreditor turnover rate, nouncredit terms, credit voucher, nouncustom, nouncustomer, nouncustomer capital, cutover, nouncut-price, adjectivedealership, noundebit account, declaration insurance, deliverable, noundelivery date, delivery receipt, deputy chairman, dime store, noundirect investment, disability insurance, discount, noundiscounting, noundispenser, noundistribute, verbdistributive, adjectivedocket, noundocumentary credit, domestic investment, draft terms, draper, noundrive-in, noundrive-in store, -driven, suffixdrop-shipping, nounDutch auction, nounearnings, nounEFQM Excellence Model, electronic point of sale, embargo, verbemporium, nounescalator clause, escape clause, executive chairman, expiration date, export, nounexport, verbexport credit, exporter, nounexport insurance, extended credit, external competitiveness, EXW, factory shop, fair dealing, financial investment, first-tier supplier, flat, adjectiveflea market, nounfleet terms, florist, nounfor-profit, adjectivefree market, nounfree port, nounfreight, nounfreight, verbfront end, nounfutures market, noungift certificate, noungift token, noungift-wrap, verbgiveaway, nounglut, noungoodwill, noungrandfather clause, greengrocer, noungross margin, noungross national product, noungross profit, nounguaranteed price, halo effect, handle, verbhandling charge, nounhigh street, nounhome product, hookup, nounHP, nounindent, nounindirect sale, industrial estate, nouninstallment plan, nouninstalment, nounInternet Service Provider, inventory, nouninvestment goods, invoice, nouninvoice, verbjob order, kanban system, layaway, nounleasing, nounliability insurance, license, verbline, nounlist price, nounlong-term credit, loss leader, nounlot, nounlumberyard, nounmail order, nounmarkdown, nounmarket, nounmarket-driven, adjectivemarket economy, nounmarket forces, nounmarketing, nounmarket leader, nounmarket-led, adjectivemarket price, nounmarket research, nounmarket value, nounmark-up, nounmedium-term credit, mercantile, adjectivemerchandise, nounmerchandiser, nounmerchant, nounMNC, MNE, move, verbmultiple, nounmultiple store, nounoff, adverboffer, nounoff-the-shelf, adjectiveo.n.o., open, adjectiveopen, verbopening hours, nounorder, nounorder, verbOTC, out, adverboutbid, verboutpost, nounoutsell, verboverbid, verboverbook, verboversubscribed, adjectiveovertrade, verbown brand, adjectiveown label, adjectivepackage, verbpackage deal, nounpackager, nounpackaging, nounpacket, nounparade, nounpart exchange, nounpass-along, nounpass-through, nounpeddle, verbpedlar, nounperformance guarantee, perfumery, nounpetty cash, nounpitch, nounplaza, nounpoint of sale, nounprice, nounprice, verbprice fixing, nounprice-fixing, nounprice list, nounprice tag, nounprice war, nounprivate company, private investment, problem child, nounproducer, nounproduction control, profit, nounprofit margin, nounpro forma invoice, nounpro-forma invoice, property and liability insurance, proprietary, adjectivepunter, nounpurchase, verbpurchase, nounpurveyor, nounpyramid selling, nounquotation, nounrake-off, nounready-to-wear, adjectivereal estate, nounreceipt, nounrefund, verbregular, nounrelaunch, nounremnant, nounrent, verbrent, nounrental, nounreorder, verbresell, verbreserve, nounretail, nounretail, verbretail, adverbretailer, nounretailing, nounretail park, nounrevolving credit, sale, nounsales channel, sales slip, nounsecond-tier supplier, secured credit, self-service, adjectivesell-by date, nounseller, nounseller's market, nounselling, nounselling price, nounserve, verbservice, nounservice agreement, service bureau, nounsettlement date, sex shop, nounshelf life, nounship, verbshopfitting, nounshopping centre, nounshopping mall, nounshopping precinct, nounshop-soiled, adjectiveshopworn, adjectiveshort-term credit, showcase, nounshowroom, nounshrink-wrapped, adjectivesister company, soft sell, nounsolicit, verbsouk, nounspecial, nounSRP, stand, nounstand-alone, adjectivestaple, nounstartup, nounstationer, nounstock, nounstockist, nounstockroom, nounstocktaking, nounstoppage in transit, nounstore brand, nounstorefront, nounstreet price, strip mall, nounstructural analysis, supermarket, nounsuperstore, nounsurcharge, nounsurcharge, verbtake-up, nountakings, nountelesales, nountender, verbthrift shop, nounthroughput, nounticket, nounticket, verbtill, nountout, verbtrade discount, nountrade fair, nountrade-in, nountrademark, nountradename, nountrade name, nountrade price, nountrader, nountrade route, nountrade secret, nountradesman, nountrading estate, nountrading post, nountraffic, nountrafficker, nountrigger point, uneconomic, adjectiveunit price, noununsecured credit, upfront fee, wares, nounwarranty, nounwholesale, nounwholesale, adjectivewholesaler, nounwinding up, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Make sure the weight of the load is evenly distributed. This species of dolphin is widely distributed throughout the world.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Make sure the weight of the load is evenly distributed. This species of dolphin is widely distributed throughout the world.· Warner Bros became the first major studio to distribute its films over the Internet.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· As might be expected from the study of mortality data acute health problems are not equally distributed throughout the population.· You do this by equally distributing power to every person; thus no one has any more authority than anyone else.· With, if only 60 percent of total current income were equally distributed it would be socially valued as equivalent.· However, they are not equally distributed in the various pay grades.· Authority and prestige are not equally distributed.· These women were equally distributed during follow-up and were censored at the time of the last visit.· Choice is a resource itself which is not equally distributed throughout society.· Smoking Smoking, of either cigarettes, pipes or cigars, is not equally distributed throughout the population.
· Moreover, unemployment has not been evenly distributed.· The dough should be elastic, soft, tacky, but not sticky and the seeds should be evenly distributed.· Unfortunately, these 13 million words are not evenly distributed across the 10 superfields.· Break rice sticks into small pieces and distribute evenly among lettuce cups.· If women were evenly distributed across the spectrum of employment, their pay levels would be much closer to those of men.· Drizzle oil over polenta and brush to distribute evenly.· Your weight should be evenly distributed between both legs.· The twenty slides are evenly distributed by gender, with a good mix of age and race.
· By 1086, Droitwich salt was being widely distributed over the Midlands.· Computation is distributed over more than one processing element and is done simultaneously.· The grant will be distributed over 3 monthly payments to ensure maximum accountability.· The male milt, or sperm-bearing fluid, is distributed over the eggs which are then, hopefully fertilized.· These jobs are not evenly distributed over the country.· From home, the news was distributed over the telephone.· Feet Similarly to the hands, feel the way the weight is distributed over both feet.
· Deviations from a state of overall full employment must be randomly distributed around a mean of zero.· Although a rock is a collection of the chemical elements that make it up, those elements are not distributed randomly.· The points in it are distributed randomly, so it contains no information which could be learned by any process.· Far from being randomly distributed, nearly all seismic activity is concentrated in relatively narrow zones.· Those atoms were randomly distributed in the environment.· Are they randomly distributed, with chance aggregations of one type, as Hartridge postulated in these columns nearly 50 years ago?· Smokers were distributed randomly among subgroups.· Inequality is not something which is randomly distributed between individuals in society.
· The evidence relating to these issues is not great, and it is unevenly distributed geographically.· The benefits that have been generated by downtown redevelopment have been unevenly distributed.· These three types of academic curriculum are distributed unevenly across the higher education system.· As everywhere in the tropics, the rainfall is distributed unevenly so that during the rainy period the daily downpours cause floods.· The evidence for the relations between a bishop and his diocese is unevenly distributed.· New technologies are unevenly distributed, permitting wealth to accumulate in the hands of relatively few.· Mr. Clarke I am aware of no evidence that pupils with special educational needs are distributed unevenly across the country.· Voluntary agencies are also unevenly distributed among different client groups.
· The most widely distributed Shas tract shows a smirking Weizman standing next to a grim-looking Deri behind bars.· They produced cartoons that were distributed widely in Southern California that showed Karenga and his comrades gloating about the murders.· These are widely distributed within the region.· The incident became the basis for the widely distributed composite drawing of the suspect.· Deposits of galena are widely distributed but by no means equally accessible to early centres of civilization.· The emphasis will be on widely distributed supercomputing and high-bandwidth visualization.· Creativity and ingenuity are widely distributed and evident in the natural activities of children outside school.· As Rowe notes, pictures of the crackdown were not widely distributed at the time.
NOUN· Equally there are commercial companies that produce, distribute, and market their product on a global basis.· Many companies use Intranets to distribute internal documents-in effect publishing Web pages for their own private use.· Both companies will distribute the unnamed product to OEMs, VARs, integrators and end users.· Many companies distribute their disks through Transend for you to try out for up to 90 days.· Of course, if no value-increasing projects are available to the company profits should be distributed to the shareholders.· No provision is made for any additional taxation which might arise should the retained reserves of overseas subsidiary companies be distributed.
· Those writing and developing computer software should distribute the computer programs in object code form only.· Very little activity in the ark, either natural or man-made, happened without the distributed computer knowing about it.· He is authorized to distribute up to 200 computers.
· In addition it will distribute 500,000 copies of its Start-up Guide for people starting their own business.· AsianWeek plans to distribute 10, 000 copies at 315 locations...· If possible, duplicate and distribute copies well in advance of the tutorial.· Re-Solv plans to distribute 700,000 copies of a new booklet to shops and businesses throughout the country.· The Church distributed 16,000 copies before it was declared seditious.· Sell or otherwise distribute for consideration copies of student practice and/or tutorial disks to students or any other third party.· Afterwards, police distributed 2,500 copies of a letter explaining their actions to local residents.
· These jobs are not evenly distributed over the country.· Mr. Clarke I am aware of no evidence that pupils with special educational needs are distributed unevenly across the country.
· Cork now has a month's breathing space to consider how best to distribute the companies' funds to creditors.· It is also barred by federal election law from advising PACs on how to distribute their campaign funds.· The mechanisms for distributing the Funds were also subject to major revisions and these became effective on 1 January 1989.
· We are fighting meningitis by raising money for medical research, distributing free information, and offering support to sufferers.· One is technological, empowering individuals to receive and distribute the information they want when they want it.· In the effort to distribute accurate information, keeping journalists and politicians well informed is absolutely crucial.· The development of an international computer database to help track patients and distribute information about prevention and treatment programs.· It is particularly useful for central offices distributing disk based information to regional branches.
· Outside the church many parishioners lingered, distributing leaflets and gossiping.· The protests began at the law courts when two men convicted of distributing anti-government leaflets each received the maximum five-year sentence.
· During the following months we started to distribute basic medical material to dispensaries, health centres, and hospitals in a few districts.· Can teachers be punished for discussing topics or distributing materials that are not relevant?· Although it is desirable for the clearinghouses to be able to distribute or lend material, it is not essential.· For this, he was convicted of distributing insulting material whereby a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned.· Divide the class into groups of three or four and distribute the materials. 3.· Divide the students into groups and distribute the materials.
· Copies of the leaflet are being distributed to members today and will be available at public counters at Headquarters and Chesser House.· It may be distributed to members of the review committee.· Commodities such as clothing, shoes and toiletries are distributed to members according to their need.· One of the issues for us here is who does this work and whether it is equitably distributed between different family members.· In any event, Liverpool Victoria wants to use its surplus to make acquisitions rather than distribute the cash to members.· Moreover, once the cases were distributed to each member, the reactions were jocular.· Special efforts should be made to distribute literature among the members of local trades union branches.· I attach a note which I hope you will find useful and which could be distributed to appropriate members of the Trust.
· This past year, the group distributed half a million books in 46 states, and their work has only just begun.· Clinton plans to distribute $ 200 million in grants this year.
· To pool the increase in salary from 1 April 1991 and distribute the money equally among all union members. 9.· Wilson said the Justice Department will begin distributing the money to fraud victims after sentencing in August.· Newcastle-based Northern Arts distributed the money during January to help 21 dance, music and theatre projects.
· The Versant client-server database gives transparent multi-user access to objects distributed anywhere in a network.· Computer software, distributed networks, and most vivisystems are discontinuous systems.· In a sparse distributed network, memory is a type of perception.· Research and development of new distributed network techniques and software applications 2.· The vulnerability of data communications and message data to interception is exacerbated with the use of distributed networks and wireless links.· Each species was loosely interconnected to the others in a kind of vast distributed network.· As a result, enterprise networks, distributed network management, and unusual software applications were implemented in parallel worldwide.· A distributed, decentralized network is more a process than a thing.
· Using the Power Station is the safest and neatest way to distribute the power to all the other units here.· You do this by equally distributing power to every person; thus no one has any more authority than anyone else.· The new commission would distribute power to the municipalities and it would also regulate the private companies.· Many states become federations to distribute governmental power where there is a huge area to be governed.
· The business comprises two operations, Steriseal, which distributes medical and opthalmic products, and Rotax, which supplies scalpels.· Our employees worked hard to produce and distribute those products efficiently.· Was it they who distributed the products of their workshops to the remainder of society?· Including every possible permutation-as well as specific suggestions on how he might distribute the product.· Both companies will distribute the unnamed product to OEMs, VARs, integrators and end users.· They had agreed to help distribute products for some major companies.· The company is registered to manufacture, distribute and sell lumber products.
· To do this would require an analysis of how decision-making and power is distributed in society.· It measures the degree of consensus which exists, if any, over how rewards are distributed in society.· Power and reward are distributed unequally in most societies, and so the privileged will be much freer.· Inequality is not something which is randomly distributed between individuals in society.· Choice is a resource itself which is not equally distributed throughout society.
· This user also distributes the appropriate software performance and status report forms.· Research and development of new distributed network techniques and software applications 2.· It distributes the customer software or other information easily.
· Anixter distributes 90,000+ wiring systems for voice, data and video communications; supplies customers worldwide, usually within 24 hours.· The coils warm the air, and it is distributed by the duct system.· We can not be sure whether creatures with the distributed nervous system of a lobster feel pain, however they are killed.· Because knowledge is distributed, the system uses many connections to retrieve solutions to particular problems.· Many of the products described above are produced and distributed by the systems operators or the database vendors.· All they would need is a way to coordinate work and memory in a very distributed system.
VERB· The government halted the distribution of petrol and the Committees for the Defence of the Republic began distributing arms.· The poultry industry also began distributing turkey ham, turkey salami, turkey pastrami, and turkey bologna.· Wilson said the Justice Department will begin distributing the money to fraud victims after sentencing in August.
· We will be looking for a lot of people to help distribute these in the community.· The development of an international computer database to help track patients and distribute information about prevention and treatment programs.· Take them to Boots and Help the Aged will distribute them to needy people around the world.· They had agreed to help distribute products for some major companies.· Senior officers were reported to have helped to distribute arms to the troops.· When the cry to help distribute Witness had gone out she had been the first to respond.
· Spreckels manufactures and distributes a diversified line of materials for lifting and positioning products.· Miscellaneous manufacturing and distributing firms with an array of interests, $ 1 million.· The equipment manufactured and distributed by Mr Bowitz is far more complex than gear seized in previous investigations, the agencies said.· The company is registered to manufacture, distribute and sell lumber products.
· Equally there are commercial companies that produce, distribute, and market their product on a global basis.· They produced cartoons that were distributed widely in Southern California that showed Karenga and his comrades gloating about the murders.· Privatization need not mean that the government no longer affects how a good is produced and distributed.· Our employees worked hard to produce and distribute those products efficiently.· Mr Wolfensohn wants to see steps taken to produce and distribute a low-cost vaccine that is affordable in the developing world.· The Producers Development Initiative offers help and advice in developing, producing and distributing their work in the international marketplace.· Many of the products described above are produced and distributed by the systems operators or the database vendors.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- But the question of how that electricity was to be distributed remained unanswered.
- Commodities such as clothing, shoes and toiletries are distributed to members according to their need.
- Copies were distributed far beyond West Virginia to scientists and officials concerned with the effect of air pollution on Eastern forests.
- Here, a single 90-minute video consuming over 100 gigabytes of storage space must be distributed to a large number of consumers.
- In times of unemployment and distress flax and hemp for spinning were distributed to the villagers.
- It was, in essence, a system of power-sharing in which offices were distributed according to the notional strength of the communities.
- The rest is to be distributed by June.
WORD FAMILYnoundistributiondistributoradjectivedistributiveverbdistribute
1to share things among a group of people, especially in a planned way SYN give outdistribute something among/to somebody Clothes and blankets have been distributed among the refugees. a man distributing leaflets to passers-by► see thesaurus at give2to supply goods to shops and companies so that they can sell them: Milk is distributed to the local shops by Herald’s Dairies.3to spread something over a large area: Make sure the weight of the load is evenly distributed.4be distributed to exist in different parts of an area or groupbe widely/evenly distributed This species of dolphin is widely distributed throughout the world. The population is distributed in a very uneven pattern.