to apportion and distribute (e.g. money or responsibility) in shares
to assign (something limited in supply) to somebody
We've been allocated one of the new flats
to earmark or designate (something)
We will allocate a section of the building for research purposes
allocable /-kəbl/ adj
allocatable adj
allocation /-ʹkaysh(ə)n/ noun
allocator noun
[medieval Latin allocatus, past part. of allocare, from ad- + Latin locare to place, from locus place]