əˈlätmənt also aˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French alotement, from aloter to allot + -ment
1. : the act of allotting
funds available and ready for allotment
as
a. : apportionment
b. : assignment to a particular person or thing or for a particular use
2. : something that is allotted : a part or portion distributed or assigned: as
a. : something that is assigned by or as if by lot or by destiny
possessing a generous allotment of common sense — Saturday Review
receiving … their varying allotments of discomfort and disappointment and discouragement — J.G.Cozzens
b. : something set apart by distribution or assignment for special use or for a distinct party: as
(1) chiefly Britain : a small piece of land let or assigned to an individual (as by the town council) for cultivation as a family garden
a disused railway siding that was turned into allotments — Anthony Powell
an allotment garden
(2) : a portion of range land, especially of national forest, allotted to the use of a particular grazier or herd or flock of grazing animals
(3) : a portion of a serviceman's salary paid, especially with additional contributions, to a designated party at his request or to a bank for his account
(4) : the portion of a newly issued security received by a subscriber
3. : acceptance of an order to purchase or subscribe to securities of a new offering in part or whole