Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Distribution \Dis`tri*bu"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. ``Our charitable
distributions.'' --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supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke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.
Geographic \Ge`o*graph"ic\, Geographical \Ge`o*graph"ic*al\, a.
[L. geographicus, Gr. ?: cf. F. g['e]ographique.]
Of or pertaining to geography.
{Geographical distribution}. See under {Distribution}.
{Geographic latitude} (of a place), the angle included
between a line perpendicular or normal to the level
surface of water at rest at the place, and the plane of
the equator; differing slightly from the geocentric
latitude by reason of the difference between the earth's
figure and a true sphere.
{Geographical mile}. See under {Mile}.
{Geographical variation}, any variation of a species which is
dependent on climate or other geographical conditions.