verb
1. cause to become widely known
e.g. spread information
circulate a rumor
broadcast the news
Synonym: circulatecircularizecircularisedisseminatepropagatebroadcastspreaddiffusedispersepass around
2. distribute or disperse widely
e.g. The invaders spread their language all over the country
Synonym: spread
3. to arrange in a systematic order
e.g. stagger the chairs in the lecture hall
Synonym: stagger
4. cause be distributed
e.g. This letter is being circulated among the faculty
Synonym: circulatepass aroundpass on
5. give to several people
e.g. The teacher handed out the exams
Synonym: give outhand outpass out
6. administer or bestow, as in small portions
e.g. administer critical remarks to everyone present
dole out some money
shell out pocket money for the children
deal a blow to someone
the machine dispenses soft drinks
Synonym: administermete outdealparcel outlotdispenseshell outdeal outdish outallotdole out
7. make available
e.g. The publisher wants to distribute the book in Asia
8. be mathematically distributive
9. be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses
e.g. Values distribute
10. spread throughout a given area
e.g. the function distributes the values evenly