Allow - Definition

v 1: make it possible through a specific action or lack of
action for something to happen; "This permits the water to
rush in"; "This sealed door won't allow the water come into
the basement"; "This will permit the rain to run off" [syn:
let, allow, permit] [ant: keep, prevent]
2: consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit
her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her
basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam" [syn:
permit, allow, let, countenance] [ant: disallow,
forbid, interdict, nix, prohibit, proscribe,
veto]
3: let have; "grant permission"; "Mandela was allowed few
visitors in prison" [syn: allow, grant] [ant: deny,
refuse]
4: give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause; "I
will earmark this money for your research"; "She sets aside
time for meditation every day" [syn: allow, appropriate,
earmark, set aside, reserve]
5: make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be
attainable or cause to remain; "This leaves no room for
improvement"; "The evidence allows only one conclusion";
"allow for mistakes"; "leave lots of time for the trip";
"This procedure provides for lots of leeway" [syn: leave,
allow for, allow, provide]
6: allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or
validity of something; "I allow for this possibility"; "The
seamstress planned for 5% shrinkage after the first wash"
[syn: allow, take into account]
7: afford possibility; "This problem admits of no solution";
"This short story allows of several different
interpretations" [syn: admit, allow]
8: allow the other (baseball) team to score; "give up a run"
[syn: give up, allow]
9: grant as a discount or in exchange; "The camera store owner
allowed me $50 on my old camera"
10: allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without
opposing or prohibiting; "We don't allow dogs here";
"Children are not permitted beyond this point"; "We cannot
tolerate smoking in the hospital" [syn: allow, permit,
tolerate]