distribution : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: distribution	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for distribution
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
distribution n (statistics) an arrangement of values of a variable showing their observed or theoretical frequency of occurrence Synonym(s): distribution, statistical distribution the spatial or geographic property of being scattered about over a range, area, or volume; "worldwide in distribution"; "the distribution of nerve fibers"; "in complementary distribution" Synonym(s): distribution, dispersion Antonym(s): compactness, concentration, denseness, density, tightness the act of distributing or spreading or apportioning the commercial activity of transporting and selling goods from a producer to a consumer
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Distribution \Dis`tribu"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. [bd]Our charitable distributions.[b8] --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 (Steam Engine) The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the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 Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 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'. 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 (15Feb98) [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}]