Dole Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of DOLE

[noncount]

:

money that a government (especially the British government) gives to people who do not have jobs or who are very poor

• dole money

— usually used as the dole

• The government is changing the rules for receiving the dole. [=(US) _welfare_]
• They've been on/off the dole for a year.
• They're going on/off the dole.

Britannica Dictionary definition of DOLE

dole out (something)

also

dole (something) out

:

to give (something) to people

• She is always doling out advice on relationships.
• The organization has doled out millions of dollars in grants.
• The nurse doles the pills out carefully.
• The agency doles out [=_hands out, distributes_] food to thousands of needy families each year.