distributive

English

Etymology

From Middle French distributif, from Latin distribūtīvus.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Adjective

distributive (comparative more distributive, superlative most distributive)

  1. Relating to distribution.
  2. Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing a proper share to each.
    • 1709, [Jonathan Swift], A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners. […], London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke, […], →OCLC, page 40:
      [I]t is worth obſerving the diſtributive Juſtice of the Authors, which is conſtantly applied to the Puniſhment of Virtue, and the Reward of Vice; […]
  3. (mathematics) A property of functions that have a rule describing how the function can be performed to the individual components of another operation.
    If function f is distributive with respect to function g, then f(a,g(b,c))=g(f(a,b),f(a,c)).
    If the operation ⋆ is distributive with respect to the operation ∘, then a⋆(b∘c)=(a⋆b)∘(a⋆c).
  4. (logic) Assigning the species of a general term.
  5. (grammar) Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively.
    a distributive adjective or pronoun, such as "each", "either", or "every"
    a distributive numeral, such as Latin "bini" (two by two)

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

distributive (plural distributives)

  1. (grammar) distributive case
  2. (grammar) A distributive adjective or pronoun.
  3. (mathematics) A distributive numeral.

Translations

French

Adjective

distributive

  1. feminine singular of distributif

Italian

Adjective

distributive

  1. feminine plural of distributivo

Swedish

Adjective

distributive

  1. definite natural masculine singular of distributiv