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 liquids 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 gra ...

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

Devices

Candy

* Klik Rockets Dispenser, 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, a device used to contain and dispense toothpaste * Paper-towel dispenser, 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 automatic. ...

, a device that, when manipulated or triggered appropriately, yields soap * Hand sanitizer dispenser, a device that gives out hand sanitiser

Medicine

* # * Dispenser (prescription), a health professional who makes up prescriptions, such as a pharmacist 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, 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 (suc ...

, 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 ...

s, which dispense beverages, candy, chips, sandwiches, and other foods *

Water dispenser A water dispenser, known as water cooler (if used for cooling only), is a machine that dispenses and often also cools or heats up water with a refrigeration unit. It is commonly located near the restroom due to closer access to plumbing. A drain ...

, 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 Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen g ...

, 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 ...