Dictionary

distribution en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ˌdəstɹəˈbjʉːʃən/ (New-Zealand)
/ˌdɪstɹɪˈbjuːʃən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˌdɪstɹɪˈbjʉːʃən/ (Australia)
/ˌdɪstɹɪˈbjuʃən/ (Canada, General-American)
audio North Carolina
/ˌdɪstɹəˈbjuʃən/ (Canada, General-American)
(California) audio

Etymology

From Old French distribution, from Latin distributio, from distribuere 'to distribute', itself from dis- 'apart' + tribuere 'to' (from tribus). By surface analysis, distribute + -ion.

Meanings

(countable, uncountable) An act of distributing or state of being distributed.
(countable, uncountable) An apportionment by law (of funds, property).
(countable, uncountable) The process by which goods get to final consumers over a geographical market, including storing, selling, shipping and advertising.
(countable, uncountable) Anything distributed; portion; share.
- December 6, 1709, Francis Atterbury, a sermon preach'd before the sons of the clergy at their anniversary-meeting in the Church of St. Paul our charitable distributions
(countable, uncountable) The result of distributing; arrangement.
- To specify the effect of flutter with one figure can be extremely misleading, for it says nothing about the distribution of flutter in the spectrum of interest. 1979, J. Strackee, Robert S. Reneman, editor, Data in Medicine: Collection, Processing and Presentation: A Physical-Technical Introduction for Physicians and Biologists, Springer Netherlands, page 200:
- A group of Thai researchers found the spider during an expedition to Phang-Nga province in southern Thailand to research the diversity and distribution of tarantulas in the country. 2023 September 26, Hafsa Khalil, “Electric blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand”, in CNN, archived from the original on 20 Nov 2024:
(countable, uncountable) The total number of something sold or delivered to the clients.
- The distribution of my little rock magazine is about 3,000.
(countable, uncountable) The frequency of occurrence or extent of existence.
(countable, uncountable) The apportionment of income or wealth in a population.
- The wealth distribution became extremely skewed in the kleptocracy.
(countable, uncountable) The way in which a player's hand is divided in suits, or in which a particular suit is divided between the players.
- The declarer had 3-6-2-2 distribution.
(countable, uncountable) A probability distribution; the set of relative likelihoods that a variable will have a value in a given interval.
- Similarly, the brain-penetrating Hrh2 antagonist zolantidine had no effect on light-induced phase shift as shown for hamsters, or the lengths or distributions of NREM, REM and wakefulness states as shown on rats. 2015 December 11, “On the Role of Histamine Receptors in the Regulation of Circadian Rhythms”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI, archived from the original on 21 Jan 2025:
- The criterion for positivity was determined for each antigen of each species applying a mixture model to the PP data which assumed two inherent Gaussian distributions: a narrow distribution or seronegatives, and a broader distribution of seropositives. 2015 September 11, “Hotspots of Malaria Transmission in the Peruvian Amazon: Rapid Assessment through a Parasitological and Serological Survey”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI, archived from the original on 12 Mar 2024:
- In fact, NALP has been at the forefront of educating prospective lawyers on the dangers of focusing on “average” starting salaries. The average is meaningless. The median is just slightly more helpful, and NALP has been begging people to pay attention to the bimodal salary distribution curve that tells the true story of how much lawyers are likely to get paid. 2010 July 23, Elie Mystal, “NALP Gives More Information on Expected Lawyer Salary”, in Above the Law, archived from the original on 15 Oct 2023:
(countable, qualifier:differential geometry, uncountable) A subset of the tangent bundle of a manifold that satisfies certain properties; used to construct the notions of integrability and foliation of a manifold.
(countable, uncountable) A set of bundled software components.
- a Linux distribution
(countable, uncountable) The process or result of the sale of securities, especially their placement among investors with long-term investment strategies.
(countable, uncountable) The resolution of a whole into its parts.
(countable, historical, uncountable) The process of sorting the types and placing them in their proper boxes in the cases.
(countable, qualifier:steam engines, uncountable) The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston: admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the next admission.
(countable, rhetoric, uncountable) A rhetorical technique in which a subject is divided into multiple cases based on some property or properties, and each case is addressed individually.
- It is alſo called a diſtribucion, when we diuide the whole, into ſeuerall partes, and ſaie we haue foure poynctes, whereof we purpoſe to ſpeake, compꝛehendyng our whole talke within compaſſe of theſame. 1553, Thomas Wilson, The Arte of Rhetorique (1962), book iii, folio 99, page 209 s.v. “Diſtribucion”
- Diſtribution, in Rhetoric, a Kind of Deſcription; or a Figure, whereby an orderly Diviſion, and Enumeration is made of the principal Qualities of a Subject. 1728, Ephraim Chambers, Cyclopædia I, page 230/2 s.v. “Diſtribution²”

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
distributions	Number=Plur		lexicographic
distribucion		alternative, obsolete	lexicographic

Deriveds

distributee · distributive · distributor

Synonyms

distro

Translations (231)

nn distribusjon (process by which goods get to final consumers) · nl verdeling (the result of distributing; arrangement) · mn тархалт (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sh rȁspodela (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · ks بٔنٛزرَن (apportionment by law of funds, property) · nl distributie (act of distribution or being distributed) · bg разпределе́ние (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · fi jakelu (process by which goods get to final consumers) · bg разпреде́ляне (act of distribution or being distributed) · bg разпределе́ние (the result of distributing; arrangement) · pl rozkład (card games: way in which the cards are divided) · pt distribuição (the result of distributing; arrangement) · nb distribusjon (act of distribution or being distributed) · nl opdeling (the result of distributing; arrangement) · sh раздиоба (act of distribution or being distributed) · de Distribution (act of distribution or being distributed) · he פיזור (act of distribution or being distributed) · nl verspreiding (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · el διανομή (process by which goods get to final consumers) · eo disvastiĝo (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · fi jakautuminen (economics: apportionment of income or wealth in a population) · de Distribution (process by which goods get to final consumers) · de Distribution (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · he תְּפוּצָה (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · pt distribuição (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · nl distributie (anything distributed) · ru распределе́ние (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · la distribūtiō (rhetorical figure) · ru разда́ча (act of distribution or being distributed) · de Streuung (anything distributed) · ro distribuție (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · fa توزیع (act of distribution or being distributed) · sh dȍstava (process by which goods get to final consumers) · fi jakauma (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sh расподјела (act of distribution or being distributed) · sv distribution (the result of distributing; arrangement) · fi vaihe (steam engines: step in the working cycle) · de Aufteilung (anything distributed) · hu forgalmazás (process by which goods get to final consumers) · gl distribución (act of distribution or being distributed) · pt distribuição (act of distribution or being distributed) · ru распростране́ние (the result of distributing; arrangement) · ro împărțire (the result of distributing; arrangement) · mr वितरण (act of distribution or being distributed) · hu megoszlás (the result of distributing; arrangement) · de Aufteilung (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · bg разпростране́ние (process by which goods get to final consumers) · it distribuzione (software: set of bundled software components — see also distro) · nl opdeling (apportionment by law of funds, property) · el μοιρασιά (apportionment by law of funds, property) · ro distribuire (process by which goods get to final consumers) · la dīvīsiō (act of distribution or being distributed) · nl verdeling (apportionment by law of funds, property) · fi erittely (rhetorical figure) · pl rozkład (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · hi वितरण (act of distribution or being distributed) · fa توزیع (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · de Aufteilung (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · uk розповсю́дження (act of distribution or being distributed) · cmn 分布 (act of distribution or being distributed) · ko 분배 (act of distribution or being distributed) · mr वितरण (apportionment by law of funds, property) · ks بٲگرَن (act of distribution or being distributed) · sh до̏става (process by which goods get to final consumers) · de Verbreitung (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · hi बँटवारा (apportionment by law of funds, property) · sv fördelning (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sv utdelning (anything distributed) · da fordeling (apportionment by law of funds, property) · cs distribuce (act of distribution or being distributed) · de Gliederung (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sh ràzdioba (act of distribution or being distributed) · pt distribuição (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · he חֲלֻקָּה (economics: apportionment of income or wealth in a population) · ca distribució (act of distribution or being distributed) · el κατανομή (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · fi jakautuminen (act of distribution or being distributed) · he הֲפָצָה (act of distribution or being distributed) · fi jakauma (the result of distributing; arrangement) · ja 分布 (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · cmn 分配 (act of distribution or being distributed) · ms pengagihan (act of distribution or being distributed) · ar تَوْزِيع (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sv distribution (process by which goods get to final consumers) · fi levittäminen (act of distribution or being distributed) · sh distribúcija (process by which goods get to final consumers) · nl uitdeling (act of distribution or being distributed) · sv distribution (act of distribution or being distributed) · oc distribucion (act of distribution or being distributed) · es capitación (act of distribution or being distributed) · el κατανομή (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · pl dystrybucja (process by which goods get to final consumers) · fi jakauma (card games: way in which the cards are divided) · pt distribuição (apportionment by law of funds, property) · fr distribution (act of distribution or being distributed) · he חלוקה (economics: apportionment of income or wealth in a population) · sh distribúcija (act of distribution or being distributed) · it distribuzione (act of distribution or being distributed) · hu eloszlás (the result of distributing; arrangement) · nl distributie (process by which goods get to final consumers) · ru распределе́ние (act of distribution or being distributed) · fi jako (economics: apportionment of income or wealth in a population) · sh ра̏сподјела (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · sh дистрибуција (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · ar تَوْزِيع (act of distribution or being distributed) · sv distribution (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · cs rozdělení (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · fi yleisyys (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · el διανομή (anything distributed) · hi वितरण (apportionment by law of funds, property) · he חֲלֻקָּה (apportionment by law of funds, property) · ro distribuire (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sh расподјела (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · ro parte distribuită (anything distributed) · pl dystrybucja (act of distribution or being distributed) · nb distribusjon (process by which goods get to final consumers) · ro distribuire (act of distribution or being distributed) · ro distribuție (the result of distributing; arrangement) · de Aufteilung (apportionment by law of funds, property) · fi jako (act of distribution or being distributed) · ga leatacht (act of distribution or being distributed) · uk розпо́діл (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · he אספקה (process by which goods get to final consumers) · sh дистрибу́ција (act of distribution or being distributed) · sh ра̏сподела (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · fi jako (apportionment by law of funds, property) · sh distribúcija (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · he הַקְצָאָה (economics: apportionment of income or wealth in a population) · eo disdono (act of distribution or being distributed) · he חֲלֻקָּה (act of distribution or being distributed) · mr वाटप (apportionment by law of funds, property) · ja 配布 (act of distribution or being distributed) · he חלוקה (apportionment by law of funds, property) · sv fördelning (apportionment by law of funds, property) · he תפוצה (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · es distribución (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · ca distribució (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sh rȁspodjela (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · nl verdeling (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sh дистрибу́ција (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · el κατανομή (the result of distributing; arrangement) · es cabezaje (act of distribution or being distributed) · sh distribúcija (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · ru распростране́ние (act of distribution or being distributed) · vo dilamosegiv (act of distribution or being distributed) · be размеркава́нне (act of distribution or being distributed) · da forhandling (process by which goods get to final consumers) · ko 분포 (act of distribution or being distributed) · fi menekki (total number of something sold or delivered to the clients) · bn বিতরণ (act of distribution or being distributed) · nl verdeling (act of distribution or being distributed) · nl distributie (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · ja 配分 (the result of distributing; arrangement) · uk дистрибу́ція (process by which goods get to final consumers) · he הֲפָצָה (process by which goods get to final consumers) · da fordeling (the result of distributing; arrangement) · de Verbreitung (anything distributed) · uk розпо́діл (the result of distributing; arrangement) · sh дистрибу́ција (process by which goods get to final consumers) · eo distribuado (act of distribution or being distributed) · sw usambazaji (act of distribution or being distributed) · he הַקְצָאָה (apportionment by law of funds, property) · da distribution (process by which goods get to final consumers) · ru дистрибу́ция (act of distribution or being distributed) · mi tuaritanga (act of distribution or being distributed) · ro distribuție (anything distributed) · da uddeling (anything distributed) · uk поши́рення (act of distribution or being distributed) · ks بٲگرَن (apportionment by law of funds, property) · gd sgaoileadh (act of distribution or being distributed) · de Absatz (process by which goods get to final consumers) · nn distribusjon (act of distribution or being distributed) · sv tilldelning (anything distributed) · sh rȁspodjela (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · it diffusione (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · ja 配分 (act of distribution or being distributed) · sv fördelning (act of distribution or being distributed) · sv fördelning (the result of distributing; arrangement) · de Aufteilung (the result of distributing; arrangement) · he הֲפָצָה (software: set of bundled software components — see also distro) · hu eloszlás (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · pt porção (anything distributed) · grc διανομή (act of distribution or being distributed) · nl spreiding (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · fi levinneisyys (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · fi erittely (logic: resolution of a whole into its parts) · et jaotus (act of distribution or being distributed) · el διανομή (act of distribution or being distributed) · he הֲפָצָה (the result of distributing; arrangement) · de Distribution (the result of distributing; arrangement) · he תפוצה (the result of distributing; arrangement) · hi फैलाना (act of distribution or being distributed) · fi jakaminen (act of distribution or being distributed) · de Distribution (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · sh rȁspodjela (act of distribution or being distributed) · uk розповсю́дження (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · uk поши́рення (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · la diaeresis (rhetorical figure) · pt arranjo (the result of distributing; arrangement) · fi jako (the result of distributing; arrangement) · fi jakelu (anything distributed) · et jaotis (anything distributed) · da fordeling (act of distribution or being distributed) · fi distro (software: set of bundled software components — see also distro) · da distribution (act of distribution or being distributed) · pt parte (anything distributed) · bg разпределе́ние (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · de Austeilung (act of distribution or being distributed) · es distribución (act of distribution or being distributed) · da spredning (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · de Verbreitung (act of distribution or being distributed) · fi levitys (act of distribution or being distributed) · fi levikki (total number of something sold or delivered to the clients) · tl pamamahagi (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · nl uitdeling (anything distributed) · ms pengedaran (act of distribution or being distributed) · it distribuzione (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · el κατανομή (apportionment by law of funds, property) · nl verdeling (process by which goods get to final consumers) · fi dihairesis (rhetorical figure) · uk розпо́діл (act of distribution or being distributed) · fr distribution (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · pt distribuição (process by which goods get to final consumers) · sv fördelning (frequency of occurrence or extent of existence) · he חלוקה (act of distribution or being distributed) · he הִתְפַּלְּגוּת (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · mr वाटप (act of distribution or being distributed) · ms agihan (anything distributed) · ja 分布 (statistics: set of relative likelihoods — see also probability distribution) · ro aranjament (the result of distributing; arrangement) · fa پراکنش (act of distribution or being distributed)