1. (v. t.) To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to allot.

2. (v. t.) To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice.

3. (v. t.) To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.

4. (v. t.) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases.

5. (v. t.) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.

6. (v. t.) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.

7. (v. i.) To make distribution.

administer align allocate allot apportion arrange array assign assort bestow bestrew broadcast categorize circulate circumfuse class classify collocate come across with compose convey deal deal out deliver deliver over diffract diffuse disburse dish out dispense disperse dispose dispread disseminate diverge divide divide up dole dole out donate dribble fan out file fix fork over forward give give in give out give over group hand hand in hand out hand over issue line line up marshal measure out mete mete out order overscatter oversow overspread parcel parcel out partition pass pass around pass out pass over pay out place portion portion out present propagate prorate publish radiate rally range ration reach regiment render resign retail scatter set out share out sort sow sow broadcast space splay spoon out spread spread out strew surrender transfer turn over utter