distribute vs scatter

distribute

verb
  • To scatter or spread. 

  • To have employees working remotely from multiple locations. 

  • To supply to retail outlets. 

  • To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases. 

  • To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise. 

  • To deliver or pass out. 

  • To divide into portions and dispense. 

  • To classify or separate into categories. 

  • To be distributive. 

  • To apportion (more or less evenly). 

  • To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table. 

scatter

verb
  • To (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse. 

  • Of a pitcher: to keep down the number of hits or walks. 

  • To deflect (radiation or particles). 

  • To occur or fall at widely spaced intervals. 

  • To distribute loosely as by sprinkling. 

  • To frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow. 

  • To be dispersed upon. 

noun
  • The act of scattering or dispersing. 

  • A collection of dispersed objects. 

How often have the words distribute and scatter occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )