distribution
from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
distribution
n 1: (statistics) an arrangement of values of a variable showing
their observed or theoretical frequency of occurrence [syn:
{distribution}, {statistical distribution}]
2: the spatial or geographic property of being scattered about
over a range, area, or volume; "worldwide in distribution";
"the distribution of nerve fibers"; "in complementary
distribution" [syn: {distribution}, {dispersion}] [ant:
{compactness}, {concentration}, {denseness}, {density},
{tightness}]
3: the act of distributing or spreading or apportioning
4: the commercial activity of transporting and selling goods
from a producer to a consumer
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Distribution \Dis`tri*bu"tion\, n. [L. distributio: cf. F.
distribution.]
1. The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing
or apportioning among several or many; apportionment; as,
the distribution of an estate among heirs or children.
[1913 Webster]
The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly
analogous to those of geography. --A. R.
Wallace.
[1913 Webster]
2. Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything
into parts; disposition; classification.
[1913 Webster]
3. That which is distributed. "Our charitable distributions."
--Atterbury.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Logic) A resolving a whole into its parts.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Print.) The sorting of types and placing them in their
proper boxes in the cases.
[1913 Webster]
6. (Steam Engine) The steps or operations by which steam is
supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke
of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting
off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam
prior to the next admission.
[1913 Webster]
{Geographical distribution}, the natural arrangements of
animals and plants in particular regions or districts.
Syn: Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal;
dispersion; classification; arrangement.
[1913 Webster]
from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
distribution
n.
1. A software source tree packaged for distribution; but see {kit}.
Since about 1996 unqualified use of this term often implies `{Linux}
distribution'. The short form {distro} is often used for this sense.
2. A vague term encompassing mailing lists and Usenet newsgroups (but
not {BBS} {fora}); any topic-oriented message channel with multiple
recipients.
3. An information-space domain (usually loosely correlated with
geography) to which propagation of a Usenet message is restricted; a
much-underutilized feature.
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
72 Moby Thesaurus words for "distribution":
administration, allocation, allotment, apportionment, arrangement,
array, arraying, assignment, attenuation, broadcast, broadcasting,
cataloguing, circulation, circumfusion, classification,
codification, collation, collocation, constitution, deployment,
diffraction, diffusion, dilution, disbursal, disbursement,
dispensation, dispersal, dispersion, disposal, disposition,
dissemination, dissipation, divergence, division, dole, doling,
doling out, evaporation, expansion, form, formation, formulation,
fragmentation, giving out, grouping, issuance, marshaling, order,
ordering, passing around, paying out, peppering, placement,
propagation, publication, radiation, regimentation, scattering,
scatterment, sequence, sharing, shotgun pattern, sowing,
spattering, splay, spread, spreading, sprinkling, strewing,
structuring, syntax, volatilization
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