noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:D IH0 S T R IH1 B Y AH0 T ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
One who or that which distributes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A device that distributes electric current, especially to the spark plugs in an internal combustion engine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dizzy
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A machine for distributing type.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Topics: media, printing, publishing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An appliance, such as a roller, in a printing press, for distributing ink.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Topics: media, printing, publishing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
electrical device that distributes voltage to the spark plugs of a gasoline engine in the order of the firing sequence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: distributer, electrical distributor
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: electrical device
6
noun
Meaning 6
a company that markets merchandise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his company is a large distributor of software products
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: company
Narrower terms: direct mailer, retail chain
7
noun
Meaning 7
a person with authority to allot or deal out or apportion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: allocator
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: authority
8
noun
Meaning 8
someone who markets merchandise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Etymology tree English distribute Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin -ātor Old French -eorbor. Middle English -our ▲ Latin -torlbor. English -or English distributor From distribute + -or.
Across languages
Translations
43 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
قَاسِم
(qāsim)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Bulgarian:
разпределител
(razpredelitel)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Catalan:
distribuïdor
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Czech:
distributor
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Dutch:
verspreider
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Finnish:
jakaja
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Finnish:
jakelija
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Finnish:
levittäjä
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Finnish:
luokittelija
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Finnish:
lajittelija
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
German:
Verteiler
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Greek:
διανομέας
(dianoméas)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Ancient Greek:
διαδότης
(diadótēs)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Indonesian:
pembagi
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Indonesian:
penyalur
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Indonesian:
distributor
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Kazakh:
дистрибьютор
(distribütor)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Kyrgyz:
дистрибьютор
(distribyutor)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Latin:
dīvīsor
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Malay:
pengedar
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Norwegian:
distributør
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Polish:
dystrybutor
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Polish:
dystrybutorka
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Russian:
дистрибью́тор
(distribʹjútor)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Russian:
распредели́тель
(raspredelítelʹ)
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Slovak:
distribútor
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Spanish:
distribuidor
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Swahili:
msambazaji
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Swedish:
distributör
— one who distributes, a thing that distributes
Western Apache:
bijíí
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Bulgarian:
дистрибутор
(distributor)
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Chinese Mandarin:
分电器
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Finnish:
virranjakaja
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
French:
delco
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
German:
Verteiler
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Persian:
دلکو
(delko)
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Persian:
آفتامات
(âftâmât)
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Persian:
تقسیمگر
(taqsimgar)
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Russian:
распредели́тель
(raspredelítelʹ)
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Swahili:
msambazaji
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Swedish:
fördelardosa
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Turkish:
distribütör
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs
Vietnamese:
bộ phân phối
— device that distributes current to the spark plugs