(1):

(n.) Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything into parts; disposition; classification.

(2):

(n.) The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the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.

(3):

(n.) The sorting of types and placing them in their proper boxes in the cases.

(4):

(n.) 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.

(5):

(n.) That which is distributed.

(6):

(n.) A resolving a whole into its parts.