patent

[ pat-nt or for 10, 12–15, peyt-; especially British peyt-nt ]

/ ˈpæt nt or for 10, 12–15, ˈpeɪt-; especially British ˈpeɪt nt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR patent ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.

an invention or process protected by this right.

an official document conferring such a right; letters patent.

the instrument by which the government of the United States conveys the legal fee-simple title to public land.

patent leather.

adjective pa·tent [peyt-nt] /ˈpeɪt nt/ (for 10, 12–15)

protected by a patent; patented: a patent cooling device.

pertaining to, concerned with, or dealing with patents, especially on inventions: a patent attorney; patent law.

conferred by a patent, as a right or privilege.

holding a patent, as a person.

readily open to notice or observation; evident; obvious: a patent breach of good manners.

made of patent leather: patent shoes.

lying open; not enclosed or shut in: a patent field.

Chiefly Botany. expanded or spreading.

open, as a doorway or a passage.

Phonetics. open, in various degrees, to the passage of the breath stream.

verb (used with object)

to take out a patent on; obtain the exclusive rights to (an invention, process, etc.) by a patent.

to originate and establish as one's own.

Metallurgy. to heat and quench (wire) so as to prepare for cold-drawing.

to grant (public land) by a patent.

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advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

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Origin of patent

1250–1300; (adj.) Middle English < Latin patent- (stem of patēns) open, orig. present participle of patēre to stand wide open; (noun) Middle English, short for letters patent, translation of Medieval Latin litterae patentēs open letters

SYNONYMS FOR patent

10 clear, palpable, conspicuous, unconcealed.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR patent ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR patent

10 dim, obscure, hidden.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR patent ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for patent

10. See apparent.

OTHER WORDS FROM patent

pat·ent·a·ble, adjectivepat·ent·a·bil·i·ty, nounpat·ent·a·bly, adverbpa·tent·ly, adverb

non·pat·ent·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·pat·ent·a·ble, adjectivenon·pat·ent·ed, adjectivenon·pat·ent·ly, adverbpre·pat·ent, noun, verb (used with object)un·pat·ent, adjectiveun·pat·ent·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·pat·ent·a·ble, adjectiveun·pat·ent·ed, adjective

Words nearby patent

patellectomy, patelliform, paten, patency, patenier, patent, patent ambiguity, patent cliff, patent ductus arteriosus, patent fastener, patent flour

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for patented

The polygraph, which uses a range of measurements including blood pressure, was patented by Leonarde Keeler in 1931.
Wonder Woman’s Creation Story Is Wilder Than You Could Ever Imagine|Tom Arnold-Forster|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A man named Herbert Gilbert patented one back in 1963 that heated a nicotine solution and produced steam.
This Is Your E-Cigarette on Drugs|Daniel Genis|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By some estimates, 40 percent of human genes have been patented, and every single one of those patents was at stake in this case.
The Supremes Get It Right, Naturally.|Sam Kean|June 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Their idea, developed in the late 1940s and patented 60 years ago this fall, turned out to be ahead of its time.
RIP to the Man Behind the Ubiquitous Bar Code|David Frum|December 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST

No matter: To all, the Texas congressman serves up his patented, unified philosophy of get-the-government-off-our-backs.
Ron Paul: Cult Hero or Legitimate Contender?|Michelle Cottle|December 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
I do not know if it was patented, but if so, the patent must have run out years ago.
The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It|Walter Winans
An amorphous, soft silicon carbide, also formed in the electric furnace, was patented by B. Talbot in 1899.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various
He didn't know the land was patented, and mebbe he figgered that if King was dead it would be easy to jump the Springs.
The Long Dim Trail|Forrestine C. Hooker
Those with only straight rods, whether they were plain or patented bars, gave an average shearing strength of 150 lb.
Some Mooted Questions in Reinforced Concrete Design|Edward Godfrey
These are uncovered by opening the throttle, which is curved—a patented feature—to secure the correct progression of jets.
Aviation Engines|Victor Wilfred Pag

British Dictionary definitions for patented

patent

/ (ˈpætənt, ˈpeɪtənt) /

noun

a government grant to an inventor assuring him the sole right to make, use, and sell his invention for a limited period
a document conveying such a grant

an invention, privilege, etc, protected by a patent

an official document granting a right
any right granted by such a document

(in the US)

a grant by the government of title to public lands
the instrument by which such title is granted
the land so granted

a sign that one possesses a certain quality

adjective

open or available for inspection (esp in the phrases letters patent, patent writ)

(ˈpeɪtənt) obvioustheir scorn was patent to everyone

concerning protection, appointment, etc, of or by a patent or patents

proprietary

(esp of a bodily passage or duct) being open or unobstructed

biology spreading out widelypatent branches

(of plate glass) ground and polished on both sides

verb (tr)

to obtain a patent for

(in the US) to grant (public land or mineral rights) by a patent

metallurgy to heat (a metal) above a transformation temperature and cool it at a rate that allows cold working

Derived forms of patent

patentable, adjectivepatentability, noun

Word Origin for patent

C14: via Old French from Latin patēre to lie open; n use, short for letters patent, from Medieval Latin litterae patentes letters lying open (to public inspection)

usage for patent

The pronunciation (ˈpætənt) is heard in letters patent and Patent Office and is the usual US pronunciation for all senses. In Britain (ˈpætənt) is sometimes heard for senses 1, 2 and 3, but (ˈpeɪtənt) is commoner and is regularly used in collocations like patent leather

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

Medical definitions for patented

patent

[ păt′nt ]

n.

A grant made by a government that confers upon the creator of an invention the sole right to make, use, and sell that invention for a set period of time.

An invention protected by such a grant.

adj.

Of, relating to, or being a nonprescription drug or other medical preparation that is often protected by a trademark.

Not blocked; open.

Spreading open; expanded.

v.

To obtain a patent on or for something, such as an invention.

To invent, originate, or be the proprietor of an idea.

To grant a patent to someone or for something.

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