allowance in WordNet English dictionary

1. an amount added or deducted on the basis of qualifying circumstances
   "an allowance for profit"
   allowance  adjustment 
   
2. the act of allowing
   "He objected to the allowance of smoking in the dining room"
   allowance 
   
3. a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits
   allowance  leeway  margin  tolerance 
   
4. an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)
   "travel allowance"; "my weekly allowance of two eggs"; "a child's allowance should not be too generous"
   allowance 
   
5. a sum granted as reimbursement for expenses
   allowance 
   
6. a reserve fund created by a charge against profits in order to provide for changes in the value of a company's assets
   valuation reserve  valuation account  allowance  allowance account 
   

1. put on a fixed allowance, as of food
   allowance