dispenser
/dɪˈspensə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈspensər/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈspen(t)-sər/ (ame, mw)
dispenser — noun
- dispensersingular
- dispensersplural
1. A machine or container designed to give out a specific product — such as soap, w
A machine or container designed to give out a specific product — such as soap, water, money, or snacks — usually operated by pressing a button, pulling a lever, or through automatic sensors.
The soap dispenser in the restroom was empty, so Mei-Lin asked the cleaner for a refill.
compound: soap dispenser; passive: was empty
Yuna pushed the button on the ticket dispenser and waited for the receipt to print.
compound: ticket dispenser; verb collocation: push the button on
The new water dispenser at the office can fill a cup in just three seconds.
Every guest room in the hotel has a small snack dispenser next to the television.
- vending machine
specifically for products sold for money — a vending machine always charges a fee, while a dispenser may give items for free (e.g. paper-towel dispenser)
- dispensing unit
more technical or industrial; used in hospitals, factories, laboratories
- distributor
usually refers to a whole system or organization that supplies products, not a single machine
文法句型
dispenser + of + [product]
compound: [product] + dispenser
用法筆記
This sense is most often found in compound nouns that name the product being dispensed — e.g. soap dispenser, water dispenser, cash dispenser, towel dispenser. Each compound has its own specific Chinese equivalent (e.g. 給皂機, 飲水機, 提款機) that learners should learn separately.
常見錯誤
2. A person whose job or role is to prepare and give out medicines, supplies, or se
A person whose job or role is to prepare and give out medicines, supplies, or services to others — for example, a pharmacist handing out prescriptions or a charity worker distributing food.
Dr. Okafor, the hospital dispenser, read the prescription label again before handing the pills to the patient.
role: the hospital dispenser; preposition: to the patient
Dr. Okonkwo, the hospital's chief dispenser, verified each prescription before handing the medicine to the patient.
role: chief dispenser; pattern: verified [prescription] before + gerund
Omar volunteered as a medicine dispenser at the clinic, giving each patient their daily dose of antibiotics.
The university appointed Ingrid as the dispenser of laboratory equipment for the biology department.
- distributor
broader — can refer to a company or organization, not just an individual
- provider
more general; does not carry the same sense of giving out in measured amounts
- pharmacist
a qualified professional who prepares and sells medicines; more specific and licensed than a dispenser
文法句型
dispenser + of + [goods/services]
用法筆記
In medical contexts, a dispenser is distinct from a pharmacist: a dispenser may only hand out pre-prepared medicines under supervision, while a pharmacist holds a licence to assess and prescribe in some countries. Distinguish from sense 1 by noting that this sense refers to a human being, not a machine.