dispense

Word family

Related topics: Law, Drugs, medicines

di·spense /dɪˈspens/ verb [transitiveT] formal

1 GIVEto give something to people, especially in fixed amounts 〔尤指以固定数额〕分发，分配〔某物〕 SYN give out

dispense something to somebody

Villagers dispensed tea to visitors.

村民们给来客送茶。

a machine for dispensing cash

取款机

2 SCLto officially provide something for people 提供，施予

dispense justice (=decide whether or not someone is guilty of a crime and what punishment they should receive) 伸张正义

3. MDto officially prepare and give medicines to people 配〔药〕，发〔药〕

4 dispense with something phrasal verbphr v formal NEEDto not use or do something that people usually use or do, because it is not necessary 〔因无必要而〕摒弃，不用，不做

Ann suggested that they dispense with speeches altogether at the wedding.

安建议省去婚礼上的所有致辞。

dispense with somebody’s services (=no longer employ someone) 不再雇用某人

Let’s dispense with the formalities (=speak openly and directly), shall we?

我们就免去客套吧，好吗？

Examples from the Corpus

dispense with somebody’s services• I ventured on one or two occasions to suggest that he might find some way of dispensing with her services.• The club now have no option but to dispense with his services.• There was never any question of dispensing with the services of an emperor.• Being able to dispense with the services of an interpreter is a big incentive to fluency.• I hope he won't be too wary about dispensing with the services of some of those announcers - and quick.

Examples from the Corpus

dispense• The escorts handle all logistic details and also dispense advice on matters of protocol and decorum.• More than 100 writers came to hear Wentworth dispense advice.• Generic substitution enables the same drug to be dispensed by the chemist, albeit under a different band name.• The exam measures knowledge and competence to operate standard ophthalmic equipment and fit, adjust and dispense eyeglasses.• This done by placing a 50 pence piece in a ticket dispensing machine.• The Reed County Clinic dispenses medication and makes referrals.• Private industry uses them to dispense nutrition information.• Selective assessment can not be dispensed with while there is a shortage of resources to meet individual needs.

dispense something to somebody• Volunteers helped dispense food and blankets to people involved in the accident.

dispense justice• Who dispenses justice round here? 18.• A new international law made it a duty to dispense justice to victims, whatever reason of state might be invoked.

From Longman Business Dictionary

dispensedi·spense /dɪˈspens/ verb [intransitiveI, transitiveT]

1if a machine dispenses something, it gives it to someone who puts in money, a special number etc

Four machines dispense a wide range of drinks and snacks.

a cash dispensing machine

—dispenser noun [countableC]

There’s a cash dispenser outside the bank.

2to sell or give medicines to people

A pharmacist will never dispense a prescription unless he or she is sure it is correct.

Origin dispense

(1300-1400) Latin dispensare “to share out”, from pendere “to weigh”

di·spense verb