allocator

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

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 © 2026

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.