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Definition of dispense verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dispense

verb
 
/dɪˈspens/
 
/dɪˈspens/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they dispense
 
/dɪˈspens/
 
/dɪˈspens/
he / she / it dispenses
 
/dɪˈspensɪz/
 
/dɪˈspensɪz/
past simple dispensed
 
/dɪˈspenst/
 
/dɪˈspenst/
past participle dispensed
 
/dɪˈspenst/
 
/dɪˈspenst/
-ing form dispensing
 
/dɪˈspensɪŋ/
 
/dɪˈspensɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
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  1. dispense something (to somebody) (formal) to give out something to people
    • The machine dispenses a range of drinks and snacks.
    • He dispensed hospitality lavishly in an effort to win votes.
  2. dispense something (to somebody) (formal) to provide something, especially a service, for people
    • The organization dispenses free healthcare to those who need it.
    • to dispense justice/advice
    Extra Examples
    • He was responsible for dispensing justice on the island.
    • Her role is to dispense advice and control the budget.
  3. dispense something to prepare medicine and give it to people, as a job
    • A pharmacist will never dispense a prescription unless they know it is genuine.
    • (British English) to dispense medicine
    • (British English) The ethanol should be available from any dispensing chemist.
    Extra Examples
    • Only qualified pharmacists can dispense prescriptions.
    • The pharmacist admitted that she had dispensed the wrong medication.
    Topics Healthcarec2
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin dispensare ‘continue to weigh out or disburse’, from the verb dispendere, based on pendere ‘weigh’.
See dispense in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee dispense in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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noun
 
 
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