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distributive

 - 3 dictionary results

dis⋅trib⋅u⋅tive

  [di-strib-yuh-tiv]
Use distributive in a Sentence
–adjective
1. serving to distribute, assign, allot, or divide; characterized by or pertaining to distribution.
2. Grammar. referring to the members of a group individually, as the adjectives each and every.
3. Logic. (of a term) distributed in a given proposition.
4. Mathematics.
a. (of a binary operation) having the property that terms in an expression may be expanded in a particular way to form an equivalent expression, as a(b + c) = ab + ac.
b. having reference to this property: distributive law for multiplication over addition.
c. (of a lattice) having the property that for any three elements, the intersection of the first element with the union of the others is equal to the intersection of the first element with each of the others.
–noun
5. a distributive word or expression.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME distributif < MF < LL distribūtīvus (see distribute, -ive )

Related forms:
dis⋅trib⋅u⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
dis⋅trib⋅u⋅tive⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To distributive
dis·trib·u·tive   (dĭ-strĭb'yə-tĭv)   
adj.  

    1. Of, relating to, or involving distribution.

    2. Serving to distribute.

  2. Mathematics Of or relating to a rule that the same product results in multiplication when performed on a set of numbers as when performed on members of the set individually. If a × (b + c) = a × b + a × c, then × is distributive over +.

  3. Grammar Referring to each individual or entity of a group separately rather than collectively, as every in the sentence Every employee attended the meeting.

n.  A distributive word or term.
dis·trib'u·tive·ly adv., dis·trib'u·tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
distributive   (dĭ-strĭb'yə-tĭv)  Pronunciation Key 
Relating to the property of multiplication over division which states that applying multiplication to a set of quantities that are combined by addition yields the same result as applying multiplication to each quantity individually and then adding those results together. Thus 2 × (3 + 4) is equal to (2 × 3) + (2 × 4). See also associative, commutative.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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