* Distribution: Allocating something means distributing it among different people or things.
* Assignment: It can also mean assigning something to a particular person or group.
* Reservation: Allocating resources implies reserving them for a particular use.
Here are some examples:
* "The company allocated $1 million to marketing this year." This means they set aside $1 million specifically for marketing expenses.
* "The teacher allocated 30 minutes for each student's presentation." This means the teacher assigned 30 minutes of class time for each student to present.
* "The city council allocated funds for the construction of a new park." This means they reserved money to build a new park.
In essence, allocating is about making something available for a specific purpose, ensuring that it's not used for anything else.