Definition of "allocate"

allocate

/ˈæl.ə.keɪt/

verb
third-person singular simple present allocates, present participle allocating, simple past and past participle allocated
1. To set aside for a purpose.
2. To distribute according to a plan, generally followed by the adposition to.
3. (computing) To reserve a portion of memory for use by a computer program.
  Quotations
  The memory manager allocates memory to requesting processes until there is no more memory available or until there are no more processes waiting for memory.
  2011, José M. Garrido, Richard Schlesinger, Kenneth Hoganson, Principles of Modern Operating Systems, 2nd edition, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, page 264