distribute

Everyday

1. To give or share things out among a number of people: The teacher distributed the books. tree →
2. To spread something over an area: Distribute the seeds evenly. tree →
3. To deliver goods to shops: The company distributes food to supermarkets. tree →
4. (maths) To share a total into groups or parts. tree →

In the lessons

In maths problems «distribute equally» means divide a total into equal shares; in everyday life charities distribute food and teachers distribute worksheets. In algebra the distributive law: 3 × (4 + 5) = 3 × 4 + 3 × 5. Phrases: «distribute equally», «distribute among», «distribute to».

Examples

• The teacher distributed 30 pencils equally among 6 tables, so each table got 5. tree →
• Volunteers distributed food to families. tree →
• Distribute the icing evenly over the cake. tree →
• The company distributes milk to shops in the town. tree →
• Please distribute these leaflets to every house. tree →
• The prize money was distributed among the winners. tree →
• Seeds are distributed by wind and birds. tree →
• Well, they dug up both the pots, and began to distribute the money among the poor. tree →

Note

Regular verb. Noun: distribution; adjective: distributive. In maths, «distributed equally among n» means divide by n; «distributed» alone does not always mean equal shares — check the question. Stress: dis-TRIB-ute.

In Jewish tradition

It means to share out. Levites give out the offerings to the priests, and Joshua's people share out the land.

Interpretation. The sharing of offerings shows that holy gifts were handled fairly. The dividing of the land was seen as fulfilling God's promise to Israel.

Examples

• And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill-offerings of God, to distribute the offerings of the LORD, and the most holy things. (Writings 2CH.31.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• When they had made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by the borders thereof, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun in the midst of them; (Prophets JOS.19.49, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb. Noun: distribution; adjective: distributive. In maths, «distributed equally among n» means divide by n; «distributed» alone does not always mean equal shares — check the question. Stress: dis-TRIB-ute.