distributed

/dɪˈstrɪbjətəd/

Something is distributed when it's divided up or spread around, the way cupcakes might be distributed among guests at a birthday party.

Distributed is a word that's often used to describe the stuff that businesses sell. When a truck pulls up to a convenience store and the driver unloads cases of soda, the soda is being distributed. The driver will go from store to store, distributing all of the soda in the truck between different stores and restaurants. Words and ideas can be distributed too, which is what happens at school when students are lucky.

Definitions of distributed

1. adjective

   spread out or scattered about or divided up
   synonyms:

   distributive

   serving to distribute or allot or disperse

   apportioned, dealt out, doled out, meted out, parceled out

   given out in portions

   broken

   discontinuous

   diffuse

   spread out; not concentrated in one place

   diffused

   (of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material

   dispensed

   distributed or weighted out in carefully determined portions

   dispersed, spread

   distributed or spread over a considerable extent

   divided, divided up, shared, shared out

   distributed in portions (often equal) on the basis of a plan or purpose

   encyclical

   intended for wide distribution

   fanned, spread-out

   especially spread in a fan shape

   far-flung, widespread

   distributed over a considerable extent

   low-density

   having low concentration

   rationed

   distributed equitably in limited individual portions

   scattered

   occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

   separated, spaced

   spaced apart

   sparse, thin

   not dense

   splashed

   (of a fluid) having been propelled about in flying drops or masses

   straggly

   growing or spreading sparsely or irregularly

   unfocused, unfocussed

   not concentrated at one point or upon one objective

   antonyms:

   concentrated

   gathered together or made less diffuse

   compact

   closely and firmly united or packed together

   bunchy

   occurring close together in bunches or clusters

   thick

   having component parts closely crowded together

   cumulous

   thrown together in a pile

   exclusive, single, undivided

   not divided among or brought to bear on more than one object or objective

   thickset

   planted or growing close together