Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

6 VERB If you allow that something is true, you admit or agree that it is true. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] Warren allows that capitalist development may result in increased social inequality.

7 PHRASE Some people use Allow me to… as a way of introducing something that they want to say or do. [FORMAL ] □  Allow me to introduce Dr Amberg.

▸  allow for PHRASAL VERB If you allow for certain problems or expenses, you include some extra time or money in your planning so that you can deal with them if they occur. □ [V P n] You have to allow for a certain amount of error. SYNONYMS allow VERB 1

permit:The guards permitted me to bring my camera and tape recorder.

authorize:We are willing to authorize the president to use force if necessary.

enable:This enables young people to do a form of alternative service.

sanction:He may now be ready to sanction the use of force.

let:I love sweets but Mum doesn't let me have them very often.

al|low|able /əlaʊ əb ^ə l/

1 ADJ If people decide that something is allowable , they let it happen without trying to stop it. □  Capital punishment is allowable only under exceptional circumstances.

2 ADJ Allowable costs or expenses are amounts of money that you do not have to pay tax on. [BUSINESS ]

al|low|ance /əlaʊ əns/ (allowances )

1 N‑COUNT An allowance is money that is given to someone, usually on a regular basis, in order to help them pay for the things that they need. □ [+ of ] He lives on a single parent's allowance of £70 a week.

2 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] A child's allowance is money that is given to him or her every week or every month by his or her parents. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use pocket money 3 N‑COUNT Your tax allowance is the amount of money that you are allowed to earn before you have to start paying income tax. [BRIT ] □  …those earning less than the basic tax allowance. in AM, use personal exemption 4 N‑COUNT A particular type of allowance is an amount of something that you are allowed in particular circumstances. □ [+ of ] Most of our flights have a baggage allowance of 44lbs per passenger.

5 PHRASE If you make allowances for something, you take it into account in your decisions, plans, or actions. □ [+ for ] We'll make allowances in the schedule for time off.

6 PHRASE If you make allowances for someone, you accept behaviour which you would not normally accept or deal with them less severely than you would normally, because of a problem that they have. □ [+ for ] He's tired so I'll make allowances for him.

al|loy /æ lɔ I / (alloys ) N‑VAR An alloy is a metal that is made by mixing two or more types of metal together. □ [+ of ] Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.

a ll-po werful ADJ An all-powerful person or organization has the power to do anything they want. □  …the all-powerful labour unions.

a ll-pu rpose ADJ [ADJ n] You use all-purpose to refer to things that have lots of different uses or can be used in lots of different situations. □  Use all-purpose flour if you cannot find pastry flour.

a ll ri ght ◆◆◇ in BRIT, also use alright 1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone or something is all right , you mean that you find them satisfactory or acceptable. □  Is it all right with you if we go now? □  'How was school?'—'It was all right.' ● ADJ [ADJ n] All right is also used before a noun. [INFORMAL ] □  He's an all right kind of guy really.

2 ADV [ADV after v] If you say that something happens or goes all right , you mean that it happens in a satisfactory or acceptable manner. □  Things have thankfully worked out all right.