disburse

[ dis-burs ]
/ dɪsˈbɜrs /

verb (used with object), dis·bursed, dis·burs·ing.

to pay out (money), especially for expenses; expend.
to distribute or scatter: Our troops were disbursed over a wide area. She disbursed the flowers to the children.

Origin of disburse

1520–30; < Middle French desbourser, Old French desborser, equivalent to des- dis-1 + -borser, derivative of borse purse < Late Latin bursa bag

SYNONYMS FOR disburse

1 lay out. See spend.

OTHER WORDS FROM disburse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH disburse

disburse disperse

Words nearby disburse

disbosom, disbound, disbranch, disbud, disburden, disburse, disbursement, disc, disc brake, disc camera, disc film

British Dictionary definitions for disbursable

disburse
/ (dɪsˈbɜːs) /

verb

(tr) to pay out

Derived forms of disburse

disbursable, adjective disbursement, noun disburser, noun

Word Origin for disburse

C16: from Old French desborser, from des- dis- 1 + borser to obtain money, from borse bag, from Late Latin bursa

usage for disburse

Disburse is sometimes wrongly used where disperse is meant: the police used a water cannon to disperse (not disburse) the crowd