From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Distribute \Dis*trib"ute\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Distributed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Distributing}.] [L. distributus, p. p. of distribuere to divide, distribute; dis- + tribuere to assign, give, allot. See {Tribute}.]
1. To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to allot.
She did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred. --Judith xvi. 24.
2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice. --Shak.
3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.
4. (Printing) (a) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases. (b) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.
5. (Logic) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.
A term is said to be distributed when it is taken universal, so as to stand for everything it is capable of being applied to. --Whately.
Syn: To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share; assign; divide.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
distributed \distributed\ adjective
1. spread from a central location to multiple points or recipients. Opposite of {concentrated}. [Narrower terms: {apportioned, dealt out, doled out, meted out, parceled out}; {diffuse, diffused}; {dispensed}; {dispersed, spread}; {divided, divided up, shared, shared out on the basis of a plan or purpose)}; {encyclical}; {rationed}; {scattered, widespread}; {sparse, thin}; {unfocused, unfocussed}] Also See: {distributive}. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
2. spread among a variety of securities; -- of investments.
Syn: diversified. [WordNet 1.5]
Distributing to the necessity of saints. --Rom. xii. 13.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
adjective
1: spread out or scattered about or divided up [ant: {concentrated}]
2: (of investments) distributed among a variety of securities
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
38 Moby Thesaurus words for "distributed": accessible, affirmed, announced, broadcast, brought to notice, circulated, common knowledge, common property, current, declared, diffuse, diffused, discrete, dispersed, dispread, disseminated, dissipated, in circulation, in print, made public, open, proclaimed, propagated, public, published, reported, scattered, sparse, sporadic, spread, stated, straggling, straggly, strewn, strown, telecast, televised, widespread
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