/ əˈlaʊəns; NAmE / noun
1.
an amount of money that is given to sb regularly or for a particular purpose :
an allowance of $20 a day
a clothing / living / travel allowance
Do you get an allowance for clothing?
—see also attendance allowance
2.
the amount of sth that is allowed in a particular situation :
a baggage allowance of 20 kilos
3.
( BrE ) an amount of money that can be earned or received before you start paying tax :
personal tax allowances
4.
( especially NAmE ) = pocket money
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IDIOMS
- make allowance(s) for sth
- make allowances (for sb)
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French alouance , from alouer , from Latin allaudare to praise, reinforced by medieval Latin allocare to place, from ad- to + locare , from locus place.