distribute

/dɪstˈɹɪbjuːt/dih-STRIH-byoot

/dɪstˈɹɪbjut/dih-STRIH-byoot

Meaningto grant apart

Common meaning: to hand out among many

disapart, away; not
tribto assign, grantLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1897 · scan
utepast-participle ending (Latin -utus)

‘apart, away’ + ‘to assign, grant’ → distribute

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin tribuō ‘to assign, grant’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry tribuō, p. 1897 · dictionary scan; Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry TRIBUTE, p. 660 · dictionary scan

Roots

tribuō, tribuī, tribūtum Latin “to assign, grant”

Related words

attribute contribute tribute

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