verb (used with object), al·lot·ted, al·lot·ting.
- to divide or distribute by share or portion; distribute or parcel out; apportion: to allot the available farmland among the settlers.
- to appropriate for a special purpose: to allot money for a park.
- to assign as a portion; set apart; dedicate.
verb -lots, -lotting or -lotted (tr)
- to assign or distribute (shares, etc)
- to designate for a particular purposemoney was allotted to cover expenses
- (foll by to) apportionwe allotted two hours to the case
late 15c., from Old French aloter (Modern French allotir) “to divide by lots, to divide into lots,” from à “to” (see ad-) + loter “lot,” a word of Germanic origin (cf. Gothic hlauts, Old High German hloz, Old English hlot; see lot). Related: Allotted; allotting.