to give permission for someone to do something or for something to happen
His parents finally allow him to stay up until midnight on weekends.
The security guard wouldn't allow me to enter without an ID card.
✦ Middle English "alouen", from Old French "alouer" (to praise, approve), later influenced by Latin "ad" + "laudare" (to praise).
to make something possible by creating the right conditions
Wide windows allow sunlight to fill the living room.
The new app will allow you to organize your photos easily.
to set aside or give a particular amount of time, money, or space for something
The tour schedule allows two hours for lunch.
We must allow extra funds for unexpected repairs.
to admit or accept that something is true, often reluctantly
She allowed that the plan might need revisions.
I allow that his idea has some merit.
the act of moving food or drink from the mouth to the stomach
After each swallow, the medicine burned her throat slightly.
He took a swallow and set the glass down.
to accept or believe something difficult, unpleasant, or surprising without openly protesting
I still can't swallow the fact that we lost the championship.
She had to swallow his rude remarks and keep smiling.
to keep strong feelings such as anger, tears, or pride inside instead of showing them
He swallowed his anger and spoke calmly.
Maria swallowed her tears when she heard the bad news.
not deep; measuring only a short distance from the top surface downward
The kids splashed safely in the shallow end of the pool.
He could see the smooth stones on the riverbed through the shallow water.
✦ From Old English sceald, meaning ‘not deep’, related to Dutch schel ‘thin’.
showing little thought, feeling, or knowledge; superficial
The movie was criticized for its shallow characters and predictable plot.
She realized her friendship with him had been shallow and based only on social media likes.
✦ Figurative sense recorded from the 16th century, extending physical ‘not deep’ to ideas and emotions.
