The verb allow has 10 senses (first 6 from tagged texts)
1. (70) let, allow, permit -- (make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen; "This permits the water to rush in"; "This sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement"; "This will permit the rain to run off")
2. (49) permit, allow, let, countenance -- (consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam")
3. (17) allow, grant -- (let have; "grant permission"; "Mandela was allowed few visitors in prison")
4. (8) allow, appropriate, earmark, set aside, reserve -- (give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause; "I will earmark this money for your research"; "She sets aside time for meditation every day")
5. (4) leave, allow for, allow, provide -- (make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain; "This leaves no room for improvement"; "The evidence allows only one conclusion"; "allow for mistakes"; "leave lots of time for the trip"; "This procedure provides for lots of leeway")
6. (3) allow, take into account -- (allow or plan for a certain possibility; concede the truth or validity of something; "I allow for this possibility"; "The seamstress planned for 5% shrinkage after the first wash")
7. admit, allow -- (afford possibility; "This problem admits of no solution"; "This short story allows of several different interpretations")
8. give up, allow -- (allow the other (baseball) team to score; "give up a run")
9. allow -- (grant as a discount or in exchange; "The camera store owner allowed me $50 on my old camera")
10. allow, permit, tolerate -- (allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting; "We don't allow dogs here"; "Children are not permitted beyond this point"; "We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital")