allocator

Everyday

1. A person or thing that shares out or gives out parts of something, such as money, places or jobs. tree →
2. (computing) Part of a computer program that hands out memory space when it is needed. tree →

In the lessons

A formal and technical word. In everyday or school use it means the one who divides things up; in computing it is the code that gives out memory. In maths problems, it is the one who shares an amount into parts. Phrases: memory allocator, seat allocator.

Examples

• The allocator gave each team a room for the project. tree →
• The teacher acted as the allocator of jobs for the class trip. tree →
• A memory allocator gives programs the space they need. tree →
• The ticket allocator made sure every family got two seats. tree →
• The money allocator divided the budget between the clubs. tree →
• The computer's allocator ran out of free memory. tree →
• Who is the allocator of the parking spaces? tree →

Note

Countable: allocators. From the verb allocate (to share out for a purpose); noun allocation. Rare in everyday talk; children mostly meet "allocate" and "allocation". Not the same as "alligator"!