4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  The  phenomena  of  geological  distribution  are  exactly 
  analogous  to  those  of  geography.  --A.  R. 
  Wallace. 
 
  2.  Separation  into  parts  or  classes;  arrangement  of  anything 
  into  parts  disposition;  classification. 
 
  3.  That  which  is  distributed.  ``Our  charitable 
  distributions.''  --Atterbury. 
 
  4.  (Logic)  A  resolving  a  whole  into  its  parts 
 
  5.  (Print.)  The  sorting  of  types  and  placing  them  in  their 
  proper  boxes  in  the  cases. 
 
  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  supplied  to  and  withdrawn  from  the  cylinder  at  each  stroke 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. 
 
  {Geographical  distribution},  the  natural  arrangements  of 
  animals  and  plants  in  particular  regions  or  districts. 
 
  Syn:  Apportionments;  allotment;  dispensation;  disposal; 
  dispersion;  classification;  arrangement. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  distribution 
  n  1:  an  arrangement  of  values  of  a  variable  showing  their 
  observed  or  theoretical  frequency  of  occurrence 
  2:  the  spatial  property  of  being  scattered  about  over  an  area 
  or  volume  [syn:  {dispersion}]  [ant:  {concentration}] 
  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  Jargon  File  (4.2.3,  23  NOV  2000)  [jargon]: 
 
  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  for  {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  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  distribution 
 
  1.    A  software  source  tree  packaged  for 
  distribution;  but  see  {kit}. 
 
  2.    A  vague  term  encompassing  {mailing  list}s  and 
  {Usenet}  {newsgroup}s  (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-underused  feature. 
 
  [{Jargon  File}] 
 
 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words