allocation

UK: /ˌæləˈkeɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌæləˈkeɪʃən/ ,(al′ə kā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•lo•ca•tion  (al′ə kā′shən), n. 

1. the act of allocating;
   apportionment.
2. the state of being allocated.
3. the share or portion allocated.
4. Business [Accountableing.] a system of dividing expenses and incomes among the various branches, departments, etc., of a business.

• Medieval Latin allocātiōn- (stem of allocātiō), equivalent. to allocāt(us) (see allocate) + -iōn- -ion
• 1525–35

al′lo•ca′tive, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

allocation / ˌæləˈkeɪʃən/ noun

1. the act of allocating or the state of being allocated
2. a part that is allocated; share
3. a system of dividing overhead expenses between the various departments of a business

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•lo•cate /ˈæləˌkeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to set apart for a particular purpose; assign:
   to allocate space.
   [~ + object + for + object]
   They allocated the money for purchasing computers.
   [~ + object + object]
   They allocated him a small room.

al•lo•ca•tion /ˌæləˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable* countable] See -loc-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

al•lo•cate  (al′ə kāt′), v.t., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to set apart for a particular purpose;
   assign or allot:
   to allocate funds for new projects.
2. to fix the place of;
   locate.

• Medieval Latin allocātus (past participle of allocāre), equivalent. to al- al- + loc(us) place + -ātus -ate¹
• 1630–40

al′lo•ca′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See assign.