license Hear it!

license Definition

li·cense (lī′səns)

noun

  1. a formal permission to do something; esp. authorization by law to do some specified thing license to marry, practice medicine, hunt, etc.
  2. a document, printed tag, permit, etc. indicating that such permission has been granted
    1. freedom to deviate from strict conduct, rule, or practice, generally permitted by common consent poetic license
    2. an instance of such deviation
  4. excessive, undisciplined freedom, constituting an abuse of liberty
Also, Brit. sp., licence li′·cence

Etymology: OFr < L licentia < licens, prp. of licere, to be permitted: see leisure

transitive verb licensed -·censed, licensing -·cens·ing

to give license or a license to or for; permit formally

Related Forms:

license Synonyms

license

n.

  1. Unbridled use of freedom

    looseness, excess, laxity, slackness, relaxedness, effrontery, arrogance, sauciness, immoderation, debauchery, sensuality, gluttony, audacity, forwardness, temerity, boldness, complacency, wantonness, prodigality, epicureanism, wild living, lawlessness, indulgence, presumptuousness, unrestraint, licentiousness, self-indulgence, profligacy, unruliness, refractoriness, gall*, brass*, crust*. *

  2. A formal permission

    permit, consent, grant; see permission. See syn. study at freedom.

license Synonyms

license

v.

permit, authorize, privilege, accredit; see allow 1, commission. See syn. study at commission.

license Law Definition

n

  1. The grant by the owner of intangible or intellectual property, such as a trademark or software program, of the rights to make certain uses of the property.
  2. A permission granted by government to perform an act or service regulated by law (for example, a license to fish or to practice law).
  3. A right to enter onto land or property and use it, without any ownership rights being conferred.
bare license
A license under which no property is exchanged, and the licensee receives the right to not be treated as a trespasser. Same as social guest, or a hotel guest .
exclusive license
A right to carry on an activity to the exclusion of all others.
license Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • revoke: Either party may revoke this license at any time by giving the other party written notice.
  • grant: He was granted a license to sell spirits in 1870, an activity that continued until the early 1980's.

Adjective modifier

  • creative: All my images have a Creative Commons license on them.
  • irrevocable: He doesn't sound like someone who would sign an irrevocable license allowing others to profit from his work.
  • artistic: Tho I've taken artistic license with some of them.
  • concurrent: You are only limited by the number of concurrent licenses purchased for Odapter.

Modifies a noun

  • plate: You purchase a vanity car license plate with your screen name on it.
  • agreement: Click to agree or disagree to the software license agreement.

Noun used with modifier

  • commons: All my images have a Creative Commons license on them.
  • driving: A clean driving license is required; training on minibus driving is given.
  • broker: In broker license mortgage online the months scale subsidy schedule the methods section.
  • liquor: He also improved the shop's range of ' foodstuffs ' when he obtained a liquor license in the early 70s.
  • copyleft: It comple- ments the GNU General Public License, which is a copyleft license de- signed for free software.
  • single-user: A single-user license costs 39.95 USD or 35 Euro.

Possessives

  • driver: You see, should they get pulled over by a police officer, the officer will ask for the driver's license.

Preposition: in

  • perpetuity: JISC, however, has bought a license in perpetuity.
license Quotes

It is a misfortune that necessity has induced men to accord greater licensetothis formidable engine, inorder to obtain liberty, than can be borne with less important objects in view; for the press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.

—Cooper,James Fenimore