allowance

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
allowance/əˈlaʊəns/

▶noun

• 1 the amount of something allowed.

  ■ Brit. an amount of money that can be earned or received free of tax.

  ■ Horse Racing a deduction in the weight that a horse is required to carry in a race.

• 2 a sum of money paid regularly to a person to meet needs or expenses.

▶verb archaic give (someone) a regular allowance of money.

– phrases
make allowance (s) for

• 1 take into consideration.

• 2 treat leniently on account of mitigating circumstances.