license

[ lahy-suhns ]

/ ˈlaɪ səns /

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See synonyms for: license / licensed on Thesaurus.com

noun Also especially British, li·cence .

formal permission from a governmental or other constituted authority to do something, as to carry on some business or profession.

a certificate, tag, plate, etc., giving proof of such permission; official permit: a driver's license.

permission to do or not to do something.

intentional deviation from rule, convention, or fact, as for the sake of literary or artistic effect: poetic license.

exceptional freedom allowed in a special situation.

excessive or undue freedom or liberty.

licentiousness (def. 1).

the legal right to use a patent owned by another.

verb (used with object), li·censed, li·cens·ing.

to grant authoritative permission or license to.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of license

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English licence, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin licentia “authorization,” Latin: “freedom,” equivalent to licent- (stem of licēns, present participle of licēre “to be allowed”) + -ia noun suffix; see -ia, -ence

OTHER WORDS FROM license

li·cens·a·ble, adjectiveli·cense·less, adjectiveli·cens·or, li·cen·ser, nounde-li·cense, verb (used with object), de-li·censed, de-li·cens·ing.

non·li·cens·a·ble, adjectivenon·li·censed, adjectivepre·li·cense, noun, verb (used with object), pre·li·censed, pre·li·cens·ing.re·li·cense, verb (used with object), re·li·censed, re·li·cens·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH license

certificate, degree, diploma, license

British Dictionary definitions for license

license

/ (ˈlaɪsəns) /

verb (tr)

to grant or give a licence for (something, such as the sale of alcohol)

to give permission to or for

Derived forms of license

licensable, adjectivelicenser or licensor, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

license

Origin of license

OTHER WORDS FROM license

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH license

Words related to license

British Dictionary definitions for license

Derived forms of license