Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Distribute

Distribute , transitive verb

[Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere to divide, distribute; dis- + tribuere to assign, give, allot. See Tribute.]

1.
To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to allot.
She did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred. — Judith xvi. 24
2.
To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice. — Shakespeare
3.
To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.
4.
(a) (Printing) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases.
(b)
(Printing) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.
5.
(Logic) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.
A term is said to be distributed when it is taken universal, so as to stand for everything it is capable of being applied to. — Whately

Distribute , intransitive verb

To make distribution.