The term dispenser typically imply a machine or

container A container is any receptacle or enclosure for holding a product used in storage, packaging, and transportation, including shipping. Things kept inside of a container are protected on several sides by being inside of its structure. The term ...

which is designed to release a specific amount of its content, usually

liquid A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure. As such, it is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, gas, an ...

s or

powder A powder is a dry, bulk solid composed of many very fine particles that may flow freely when shaken or tilted. Powders are a special sub-class of granular materials, although the terms ''powder'' and '' granular'' are sometimes used to distin ...

s/fine

granular material A granular material is a conglomeration of discrete solid, macroscopic particles characterized by a loss of energy whenever the particles interact (the most common example would be friction when grains collide). The constituents that compose ...

s. In common usage, a dispenser may also refer to: * # *

Devices

Candy

Klik Rockets Dispenser In the United States, Smarties are a type of tablet candy produced by Smarties Candy Company, formerly known as Ce De Candy Inc., since 1949. Smarties are produced in factories in both Union Township, New Jersey, and Newmarket, Ontario. The c ...

, a candy dispenser *

Pez dispenser Pez (, ; stylised as PEZ) is the brand name of an Austrian candy and associated manual candy dispensers. The candy is a pressed, dry, straight-edged, curved-corner block 15 mm ( inch) long, 8 mm ( inch) wide and 5 mm ...

, a candy dispenser

Hygiene

Automatic toothpaste dispenser The toothpaste pump, also known as a toothpaste pump dispenser, is a device used to contain and dispense toothpaste, akin to a tube. An automatic toothpaste dispenser is a self-starting way to dispense toothpaste. Pump Several innovative designs h ...

, a device used to contain and dispense toothpaste *

Paper-towel dispenser A paper-towel dispenser is a device that dispenses paper towels in a public toilet so that hands can be dried after hand washing. Some are operated by a handle, some by pulling the paper from the dispenser, and others by automatic dispensation ...

, a device that dispenses paper towels *

Soap dispenser A soap dispenser (in Europe mostly known as a soap squirter) is a device that, when manipulated or triggered appropriately, dispenses soap (usually in small, single-use quantities). It can be manually operated using a handle or can be automati ...

, a device that, when manipulated or triggered appropriately, yields soap *

Hand sanitizer Hand sanitizer (also known as hand antiseptic, hand disinfectant, hand rub, or handrub) is a liquid, gel or foam generally used to kill many viruses/bacteria/microorganisms on the hands. In most settings, hand washing with soap and water is ge ...

dispenser, a device that gives out hand sanitiser

Medicine

* # *

Dispenser (prescription) The term dispenser typically imply a machine or container which is designed to release a specific amount of its content, usually liquids or powders/fine granular materials. In common usage, a dispenser may also refer to: * # * Devices * C ...

, a health professional who makes up prescriptions, such as a

pharmacist A pharmacist, also known as a chemist (Commonwealth English) or a druggist (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), is a healthcare professional who prepares, controls and distributes medicines and provides advice and instructi ...

or a

pharmaconomist In Denmark (including Greenland and Faroe Islands), pharmaconomists ( da, farmakonom) are experts in pharmaceuticals ( da, lægemiddelkyndig) who have trained with a 3-year tertiary degree. Pharmaconomy ( da, farmakonomi) describes either their p ...

Hearing aid dispenser A hearing aid is a device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss. Hearing aids are classified as medical devices in most countries, and regulated by the respective regulations. Small audio amplifiers su ...

, an entity that sells hearing aid *

Pill dispenser Pill dispensers are items which release medication at specified times, to assist patients in adhering to their prescribed medication regime. They may also alert the patient that it is time to take the medication. Some devices can alert a monitorin ...

, items which release medication at specified times

Others

# *

Cash dispenser An automated teller machine (ATM) or cash machine (in British English) is an electronic telecommunications device that enables customers of financial institutions to perform financial transactions, such as cash withdrawals, deposits, f ...

, Device used to process cash present operation in automated teller machine (ATM) *

Label dispenser Label dispensers and label applicators are machines built to simplify the process of removing a label from its liner or backing tape. Some are bench-top for dispensing the labels while others include the application of the label to the item (su ...

, machines built to simplify the process of removing a label from its liner or backing tape *

Media dispenser A media dispenser or a culture media dispenser is a device for repeatedly delivering small fixed volumes (typically between 1 ml and 50 ml) of liquid such as a laboratory growth medium like molten agar or caustic or volatile solvents li ...

, a device for dispensing small units of liquid laboratory media *

Powder measure A powder measure is a device for dispensing consistent amounts of smokeless powder as charges for handloading cartridges used as small arms ammunition. Propellant evolution Firearms using gunpowder could be loaded using a small scoop or charge ...

, a device for dispensing uniform amounts from a propellant hopper while handloading small arms ammunition *

Tape dispenser A tape dispenser is an object that holds a roll of tape and has a mechanism at one end to shear the tape. Dispensers vary widely based on the tape they dispense. Abundant and most common, clear tape dispensers (like those used in an office or at ...

, an object that holds a roll of tape and has a mechanism at one end to shear the tape *

Vending machine A vending machine is an automated machine that provides items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card, or other forms of payment are inserted into the machine or otherwise made. The fir ...

s, which dispense beverages, candy, chips, sandwiches, and other foods * Water dispenser, a device designed to dispense hot or cold water *

Wine dispenser Wine dispensers are devices designed to serve and preserve wines. Dispensers store stored wines at cool temperatures and oxygen is prevented from entering the bottle when pouring. Wine dispensers vary greatly in use and function, most commonly ...

, a device designed to serve and preserve wines * An automated dispenser used for order picking in warehouses

People

Le Despenser Despencer (le Despencer) or Despenser is an occupational surname referring to the medieval court office of steward, most commonly associated with Norman-English barons of the 13th- and 14th-centuries and their descendants. Notable people with this s ...