distributor
UK: dɪˈstrɪbjʊtə | US: dɪˈstrɪbjʊtər
n. a person or company that supplies goods to stores or businesses
n. a device that allocates resources (e.g., electricity, fuel) in a system
n. (law) a party responsible for delivering assets in an estate
The word "distributor" originates from Latin distribuere ("to divide, assign"), combining dis- (apart) and tribuere (to assign/grant). The suffix -or marks the agent (one who performs the action). Historically, "tribute" referred to allocations of goods or taxes, evolving into the modern sense of systematic allocation. The term reflects a logical progression from "dividing resources" to "managing supply chains."
The distributor delivers fresh produce to local supermarkets weekly.
A faulty fuel distributor caused the engine to malfunction.
She works as a film distributor for an independent studio.
The court appointed a distributor to handle the estate’s assets.
This device acts as a power distributor for the entire building.