distributed

Compared meaning: spread widely over an area or among people (adjective).

比较义项：广泛存在或散布于某个范围、地区或人群中（形容词）。

• widespread

  Describes an abstract phenomenon (a disease, belief, problem, or damage) that exists or occurs across a large area or among many people; neutral in tone and not used for physically scattered objects.

  描述一种抽象现象（如疾病、观念、问题或损失）广泛存在于大范围地区或众多人群中；语气中性，不用于描述实体物品的散乱分布。

  Flooding was widespread across the region after the heavy rain.

  大雨过后，洪水在这个地区普遍发生。

• scattered

  Describes physical objects spread out in a disorderly, untidy way over a space; often implies a mess or lack of organization, unlike the more neutral or systematic other words.

  描述实体物品杂乱无序地散落在某个空间中；常带有凌乱、缺乏整理的意味，不像其他几个词那样中性或系统。

  Toys were scattered all over the living room floor.

  玩具乱七八糟地散落在客厅地板上。

• sparse

  Describes something present in small quantity or low density, often implying there is not enough of it; used for vegetation, population, hair, or data, not for disorder.

  描述某物数量少、密度低，常暗示数量不足；多用于植被、人口、毛发或数据等，而非表示杂乱。

  The desert had sparse vegetation, with just a few small bushes.

  沙漠里植被稀疏，只有几丛小灌木。

• distributed 本词

  Describes something spread across separate parts or locations in a fairly organized or measurable way; common for describing population, resources, or systems, contrasting with the disorder implied by 'scattered'.

  描述某物较为有序或可衡量地分布在不同的部分或地点，常用于描述人口、资源或系统，与 scattered 所暗示的杂乱形成对比。

  Population in this country is unevenly distributed across the provinces.

  这个国家的人口在各省之间分布不均。

These four words describe things spread over an area. Widespread: found in many places. Scattered: objects spread out messily. Sparse: present in small amounts or low density. Distributed: spread across parts in an organized way. This excludes distribute, the verb meaning to hand out.

这四个词都可以描述事物在范围或数量上的分布状态，但语气和用法不同：widespread 侧重现象普遍存在，scattered 侧重杂乱无序地散落，sparse 侧重数量稀少、密度低，distributed 侧重较有序地分布在各个部分或地点；这里不比较 distributed 作为动词 distribute（分发、发放，如分发课本）的用法。