distribution

How things spread

The verb distribute, to deal out shares of something, gives rise to the noun distribution, which can characterize the act of or result of giving out, or something that is given out.

In a more abstract way, anything that can be observed in multiple places while having the same characteristics can be called a distribution: the distribution of squirrels across Wyoming.

In commerce, distribution refers to the business of ensuring that products reach consumers.

In computing, a distribution is a particular release of a version of software.

allocation

budget

Plan for spending

resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
fundsAvailable financial resources
quotaFixed assigned amount

allotment · apportionment · rationing · division · sharing · provision · earmarking · partitioning · subdivision · entitlement

commerce

wholesale

Bulk sales to merchants

retailSales to end users
supply chainProduct delivery infrastructure
logisticsCoordination of complex activities

warehouse · fulfillment · shipping · inventory · channel · vendor · dealer · outlet · merchandising · franchise

dispersal

scatter

Distribute in random directions

spreadTo distribute widely
disseminateSpread information widely
diffuseSpread thinly throughout

propagate · broadcast · disperse · sprinkle · strew · radiate · circulate · sow · widespread · scattered

statistics

probability

Quantified chance of occurrence

bell curveNormal distribution's shape
standard deviationSpread around the mean
varianceSpread around the mean

mean · median · mode · normal · percentile · quartile · frequency · histogram · outlier · skewness

publishing

circulation

Movement through a system

printingReproducing text mechanically
syndicationMulti-outlet content distribution
serializationEncoding objects for transmission

newsletter · bulletin · pamphlet · periodical · subscriber · readership · copies · press run · edition · issue

electrical

power grid

Linked transmission system

transformerVoltage-altering electrical device
substationPower distribution point
voltageElectrical potential difference

transmission · utility · switchgear · feeder · load · wiring · panel · circuit · main · junction

Categories

film industryfilm studios, film production, Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood
operationsoperation, operations, military operation, joint operation, workflow
business venturesventure, startup, franchise, enterprise, investment
sharesshares, share, profit sharing, divvy, market share
distributionallocation, allotment, apportionment, dispersion, spread
resource managementbudget, budgeting, saving, allocation, allocating

Opposites

dispersal vs. accumulation

distributioncollection

Gathered set of items

accumulation · gathering · concentration · aggregation · centralization

statistical spread vs. concentration

distributionconcentration

Sustained single-minded attention

compactness · uniformity · singularity · tightness · denseness

release vs. retention

distributionretention

Continued holding or possession

hoarding · withholding · collection · storage · keeping

Phrases

distribution listsPreset email recipient collections
gas distributionDelivering fuel via pipelines
video distributionDelivering recorded media
condom distributionSupplying barrier birth control
distribution centerFacility for routing goods
food distributionAllocating provisions to recipients

Family

distributing, distributions, redistribution, distributive, redistributing, redistributions, distribution channels

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G