Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
💰 Distribution of resources 💾 Assigning storage
allocation

allocation

2 5.9
Assigning parts of a computer disk to store data
  • noun
  • /ˌæləˈkeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
: asignación
  • The concepts and mechanics of memory allocation on Windows are actually very well defined.
  • memory allocation
  • bandwidth allocation
  • sector allocation

So now we just have some dynamic memory allocation.

Examples

  • In medical settings, they may be comparing multiple medications within a single patient using random allocation.

    Academic text (2010)

  • You did not have a personal allocation of files on disc.

  • During the allocation of resources to an instruction, one or more instructions may be displaced.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The Council also approved the increase in the allocation for the Gopher Net and computer maintenance from $600 to $4,000.

    Academic text (1995)

  • To ensure that such resources can nonetheless be reclaimed, HiStar provides hierarchical control over object allocation and deallocation through containers.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The system handles the allocation of data to different sectors on the disk efficiently.

  • Proper memory allocation ensures that applications run smoothly without crashing.

  • The allocation of disk space is crucial for optimizing the performance of computer systems.

Synonyms

assignment
vsallocation
22 1.8

The act of giving things or tasks to people

is specific to putting data into particular disk locations inside computers
assigning
vsallocation
2 2.5

Giving something to a person or place for a reason

is about putting particular data into set disk areas inside a computer
assignation
vsallocation
  • Archaic
1 8.9

Giving things, money or jobs to people according to a plan

is limited to placing data into defined disk areas in computers
storage allocation
vsallocation
  • Specialized
1 5.4

Giving parts of a computer's memory or disk to hold files and programs

is limited to placing data in areas on a computer disk
allotment
vsallocation
  • UK
1 4.6

The giving out of things according to a plan

is about giving disk space to data within a computer system

Compounds

file allocation table
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A table on a computer disk that shows where information is stored and which areas cannot be used

storage allocation
  • Specialized
1 5.4

Giving parts of a computer's memory or disk to hold files and programs

allocation unit
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A block of disk space reserved for one file, the smallest amount a file can use

How Large

volume
  • Specialized
3 4.9
partition
  • Specialized
12 4.8
allocation
  • Specialized
2 5.9
allocation unit
  • Specialized
1 7.4
sector
  • Specialized
5 7.1

Surface Forms

allocation singular
allocations plural

Morphology

allocation = allocate (transparent) = allocate + ion

The computing sense is a noun derived from the verb 'allocate' with the nominalizing suffix '-ion', indicating the action or result of assigning resources (here disk space).

Etymology

Allocation comes from the root loc meaning 'place', the same root as in location. In computing, an allocation is the act of 'placing' data into a specific space on a disk or in memory, so the word fits the idea of giving a place to information.