distribute-v; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: hand out, dispense or dole out something

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] DISTRIBUTE NP2[patient] PP[recipient]
NOTE: the act of distribution is intentional or purposive

Examples:
Bottles of water and blankets were distributed to the evacuees.
This year the company is distributing a dividend to each shareholder.
The TA will be distributing the final exam tomorrow in Room 210.

Mappings:
VerbNet: contribute-13.2-1
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: distribute.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 4

Sense Number 2: spread or scatter over an area or region

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] DISTRIBUTE NP2[patient]
NOTE: The distribution is not intentional or purposive, no recipient

Examples:
Layers of ash were distributed here millions of years ago by a volcano.
Portuguese became distributed around the world by 17th century sailors.
This function distributes the values along a straight line.
A probability function distributes a probability mass of 1 throughout the sample space.

Mappings:
VerbNet: contribute-13.2-1
FrameNet: Dispersal
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 7, 6

Sense Number 3: circulate or publicize something

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP1[instrument] DISTRIBUTE NP2[patient] (PP) NP1[instrument] DISTRIBUTE NP2[patient] (ADVP)

Examples:
This film has not yet been distributed overseas.
The students had a petition distributed to the faculty last week.
The rumor of John's resignation was widely distributed before he could stop it.

Mappings:
VerbNet: contribute-13.2-1
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: distribute.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 5, 6

Sense Number 4: arrange items or be arranged

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP1 DISTRIBUTE NP2[goal] ADVP

Examples:
Distribute the cards so that there are three in each group.
The gardener had distributed the bulbs to form a circle around the tree.
In the expression 'a(b + c)' multiplication can also distribute 'a' over both 'b' and 'c' as 'ab + ac'.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 9, 10, 8