/ə'laʊ; ə`lau/
v
1 (a) [Tnt] permit (sb/sth) to do sth 允许, 许可, 准许（某人[某事物]）做某事物
*My boss doesn't allow me to use the telephone. 老板不许我使用电话.
* Passengers are not allowed to smoke. 乘客不得吸烟.
* (fig 比喻) She allowed her mind to wander. 她任由思绪徘徊.
(b) [Tn] let (sth) be done or happen 容许（某事物）发生
*Photography is not allowed in this theatre. 本剧院内不准摄影.
* We don't allow smoking in our house. 在我们家 不容许吸烟.
(c) [Tn esp passive 尤用于被动语态] (usu negative 通常作否定式) permit (sb/sth) to go in 准予（某人[某物]）进入
*Dogs not allowed/No dogs allowed, ie It is not permitted to bring dogs into this park, building, etc. 不准携狗入内.
2 [Dn.n, Dn.pr] ~ sth to sb let sb have sth 让某人得到某事物
*This diet allows you one glass of wine a day. 这种规定饮食可让你每天喝一杯酒.
* How much holiday are you allowed? 你有多少天假?
* I'm not allowed visitors. 不准我有访客.
* The garage allowed me
500 on my old car, ie as a discount on the price of a new one. 汽车修理厂给我的旧汽车作价500英镑.
* (fig 比喻) He allows his imagination full play, ie does not try to control it. 他任自己的想像力充分发挥（不想控制它）.
3 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (for sb/sth) provide sth or set sth aside for a purpose or in estimating sth （为某目的或作估计）留出, 打出某事物
*allow four sandwiches each/per head 给每人准备四块三明治
* You must allow three metres for a long-sleeved dress. 做长袖的衣服你得打出三米来.
* I should allow an hour to get to London. 到伦敦去我得留出一小时来.
4 (a) [Tn, Tf] (law 律) agree that (sth) is true or correct 同意（某事物）属实或正确
*The judge allowed my claim. 法官同意了我的要求.
* He allowed that I had the right to appeal. 他同意我有权上诉.
(b) [Tf, Tnt] (fml 文) accept (sth); admit 接受（某事物）; 承认
*Even if we allow that the poet was mad... 即使我们承认那位诗人是疯子...
* Many allow him to be the leading artist in his field. 很多人都认为他在这一艺术领域首屈一指.
5 (phr v) allow for sb/sth include sb/sth in one's calculations 在计算, 估计, 考虑时包括某人[某事物]
*It will take you half an hour to get to the station, allowing for traffic delays. 把路上的耽搁算进去, 你要用半小时才能到车站. allow sb in, out, up, etc permit sb to enter, leave, get up, etc 允许某人进入, 离开, 起来等
*She won't allow the children in(to the house) until they've wiped their shoes. 孩子们不把鞋擦乾净, 她就不让他们进（屋）.
* The patient was allowed up (ie permitted to get out of bed) after
10 days. 病人十天以後才允许起来（准予离床下地）. allow of sth (fml 文) permit sth; leave room for sth 容许某事物; 对某事物留有馀地
*The facts allow of only one explanation. 这些事实只能有一种解释.

v [T]

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1【can do something】
2【make something possible】
3【have enough of something】
4【correct/permitted】
5 allow me
Phrasal verbs
　allow for somebody/something
　allow of something

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[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: allouer, from Medieval Latin allocare ( ALLOCATE) and from Latin adlaudare, from ad- 'to' + laudare 'to praise']
【CAN DO SOMETHING】
to let someone do or have something, or let something happen
= permitallow sb/sth to do sth
　My parents wouldn't allow me to go to the party.
　Women are not allowed to enter the mosque.
　Don't allow your problems to dominate your life.
allow sb sth
　Passengers are allowed one item of hand luggage each.
　How much time are we allowed?
allow sb in/out/up etc
　I don't allow the cat in the bedroom.
　The audience is not allowed backstage.
sth is (not) allowed
(=something is or is not officially permitted)
　Are dictionaries allowed in the exam?
　We don't allow diving in the pool.
【MAKE SOMETHING POSSIBLE】
to make it possible for something to happen or for someone to do something, especially something helpful or useful
= permit
　This adjustment of the figures allows a fairer comparison.
allow for
　Our new system will allow for more efficient use of resources.
allow sb to do sth
　A 24-hour ceasefire allowed the two armies to reach an agreement.
allow sb sth
　a seatbelt that allows the driver greater freedom of movement
【HAVE ENOUGH OF SOMETHING】
to be sure that you have enough time, money, food etc available for a particular purpose
allow sb sth
　Allow yourselves plenty of time to get to the airport.
allow sth for sb/sth
　I've allowed half a bottle of wine for each person.
【CORRECT/PERMITTED】
formal to accept that something is correct or true, or that something is acceptable according to the rules or law
allow that
　I allow that there may have been a mistake.
　The judge allowed the evidence.
allow me
formal used as a polite way of offering to help someone do something
　'Allow me,' the waiter said, opening the door.
→let¹
→forbid
allow for / [allow for sb/sth] phr v
to consider the possible facts, problems, costs etc involved in something when making a plan, calculation, or judgment
　Allowing for inflation, the cost of the project will be $2 million.
　You should always allow for the possibility that it might rain.
allow of [allow of sth] phr v
to make it possible for something to happen or be accepted
　The facts allow of only one interpretation.