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to distribute

to distribute

4 4.6
Spread values in a certain way in math
  • verb
  • /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/
  • Specialized
: distribuirse
  • So you can see that by using the tools we have to distribute data, we're getting less randomized samples.
  • normally distributed
  • evenly distributed
  • uniformly distributed

I think we're uniformly distributed between AB and C OK.

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Examples

  • We could also distribute that three into both terms.

  • OK, so now I think we can distribute our our term out in front here.

  • See how the pressure points are distributed equally?

  • Look how the weight is distributed from the heel to the ball of the foot.

  • That means distribute the negative sign, expand inside the parentheses.

  • Your weight should be evenly distributed.

  • Race, special education status, poverty status, and sex were evenly distributed between the intervention and control conditions.

    Academic text (2015)
  • For each model, the estimates of relative potency were distributed around the true values.

    Academic text (2013)
  • As you can see, the weight is evenly distributed and there's minimal scarring.

  • The teacher asked us to distribute the markers evenly across the tables for the group activity.

Synonyms

to allocate
vsto distribute
88 4.5

Give parts of something, like money or time, to people for a planned purpose

follows a set rule across elements rather than planning for purposes
to spread out
vsto distribute
84 3.1

To arrange or unfold things so they cover a larger area

applies a formal rule or operation over a set abstractly
to ration
vsto distribute
31 5.1

To limit how much food or supplies each person gets when there is not enough

describes applying a mathematical rule across a set rather than limiting amounts
to divvy
vsto distribute
  • Informal
18 7.3

To share something among a group of people

focuses on structured arrangement or rule rather than casual sharing
to divvy up
vsto distribute
  • Informal
16 4.2

Share things or money between several people

is used in formal contexts for rule-based splitting not casual sharing
to apportion
vsto distribute
8 7.0

To divide something and give parts to different people or groups

splits items by a formal rule or arrangement rather than fairness aim
to parcel out
vsto distribute
6 4.8

To divide something into parts and give each part to different people

uses a systematic rule to divide elements not informal handing out
to ration out
vsto distribute
3 4.2

To give people small set amounts of things like food or water when supplies are low

applies a rule or arrangement, not only because of scarcity

Antonyms

189 3.1

A group of similar things or people close together

To join several things into one whole

How Evenly

to disperse
81 4.4
to spread
768 1.6
to distribute
  • Specialized
4 4.6
to arrange
112 1.7

Surface Forms

distribute infinitive
distributed past participle
distributing present participle
distributes third person singular

Morphology

distribute = tribute (semi-transparent) = dis + tribute

The mathematical/statistical sense of 'be spread/arranged' aligns with dis- (apart) + root meaning 'assign/spread', but learners who only know 'tribute' as 'payment' may not see the link.

Etymology

Distribute comes from the Latin parts dis- 'apart' and tribuere 'to give', which gives a clear picture for math: to distribute is to 'give' or spread something to each part. So in mathematics, 'distribute' means to apply or spread an operation across the parts of an expression.