license
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Alternative forms
- (Commonwealth English) licence (noun only)
[edit] Usage notes
In British and Australian English, licence is a noun and license is a verb. Canadian English uses licence for the noun and license or licence for the verb.
[edit] Etymology
From Old French licence < Latin licentia (“‘license’”) < licens, ppr. of licere (“‘to be allowed, be allowable’”); cf. linquere, Greek λείπειν (leipein), “‘to leave’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈlaɪsəns/, SAMPA: /"laIs@ns/
- Audio (US)help, file
- Hyphenation: li‧cense
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
license (plural licenses)
- A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.
- The legal terms under which a person is allowed to use a product, especially software.
- Even if you bought this product, it does NOT belong to you. You have a license to use it under the terms of this agreement, until you breach this agreement.
- Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech).
- Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint.
- 1936, Will Durant and Ariel Durant, The Story of Civilization, page 520:
- When liberty becomes license dictatorship is near.
- 1936, Will Durant and Ariel Durant, The Story of Civilization, page 520:
- An academic degree, the holder of which is called a licentiate, ranking slightly below doctorate, awarded by certain European and Latin-American universities.
[edit] Translations
legal document giving official permission to do something
legal terms of product usage
freedom to deviate from normally applicable rules or practices
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excessive freedom
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academic degree
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[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to license (third-person singular simple present licenses, present participle licensing, simple past and past participle licensed)
- The act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization.
- It was decided to license Wikipedia under the GFDL.
- Authorize officially.
- I am licensed to practice law in this state.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
act of giving a formal authorization
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authorize officially
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[edit] External links
- license in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- license in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911