term:

Distribution

distribution n

1 : the act or process of distributing: as
a : the apportionment by a court of the property and esp. personal property of an intestate among those entitled to it according to statute compare descent, devise NOTE: The laws dealing with intestate succession are often called laws of descent and distribution.
b : the payment or transfer to a beneficiary of interest to which he or she is entitled under a trust
c : the transfer by a corporation or mutual fund of money or property to a shareholder in his or her capacity as a shareholder
d : the initial offering to the public of a security by a corporation
e : the delivery of a controlled substance
2 : something distributed
dis·tri·bu·tive [di-stri-by-tiv]
adj

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.