Contribute

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kÉ™nˈt(ʃ)ɹɪbjuːt/
• less common IPA: /ˈkÉ’nt(ʃ)ɹɪˌbjuːt/}

Origin

From Latin contribūtus, perfect passive participle of contribuō, from -("together") + tribuō("I bestow"), from tribus, dative of trēs, from Proto-Italic *trēs, from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes.

Full definition of contribute

Verb

1. To give something, that is or becomes part of a larger whole.
• 2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.

Synonyms

Related terms

• contribution
• contributor
• contributory