DISTRIBUTIVE

distributive

(adjective) serving to distribute or allot or disperse

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

distributive (comparative more distributive, superlative most distributive)

Relating to distribution.

Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing a proper share to each.

(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 $$\star$$ is distributive with respect to the operation $$\circ$$ , then $$ a \star (b \circ c) = (a \star b) \circ (a \star c) $$ .

(logic) Assigning the species of a general term.

(grammar) Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively.

Noun

distributive (plural distributives)

(grammar) distributive case

(grammar) A distributive adjective or pronoun.

(math) A distributive numeral.

Source: Wiktionary

Dis*trib"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distributif.]

1. Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing to each his proper share. "Distributive justice." Swift.

2. (Logic)

Definition: Assigning the species of a general term.

3. (Gram.)

Definition: Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively; as, a distributive adjective or pronoun, such as each, either, every; a distributive numeral, as (Latin) bini (two by two). Distributive operation (Math.), any operation which either consists of two or more parts, or works upon two or more things, and which is such that the result of the total operation is the same as the aggregated result of the two or more partial operations. Ordinary multiplication is distributive, since a × (b + c) = ab + ac, and (a + b) × c = ac + bc.

– Distributive proportion. (Math.) See Fellowship.

Dis*trib"u*tive, n. (Gram.)

Definition: A distributive adjective or pronoun; also, a distributive numeral.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition