Dictionary

license en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈlaɪ.səns/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English licence, licens, lisence, lissens, licance, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave”).

Meanings

1. (US, countable, uncountable) A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.
   • Hello. I would like to buy a fish licence please. 1970, 0:1:15 from the start, in Monty Python's Flying Circus, season 2, episode 10, John Cleese (actor):
2. (US, countable, uncountable) The legal terms under which a person is allowed to use a product, especially software.
   • Thus, while the license will grant the user the right to use the software, a major concern is the scope of that use. For example, will the user be granted the right to copy, modify, or transfer the software? 1986, Thomas Smedinghoff, The Legal Guide to Developing, Protecting, and Marketing Software, page 166:
3. (US, countable, uncountable) Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behaviour or speech).
   • In some instances, the author took license to include events which never happened, or to purposely create events which may run in the face of popular conjecture if the author felt it would help the story along. 2012, Chris Seepe, The Conspiracy to Assassinate Jesus Christ, page 5:
4. (US, countable, uncountable) Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint.
   • When liberty becomes license dictatorship is near. 1936, Will Durant, Ariel Durant, The Story of Civilization, page 520:
   • I envy not the beast that takes ⁠His license in the field of time, ⁠Unfetter’d by the sense of crime, To whom a conscience never wakes; […] 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 44:
5. (US, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of driver's license.
   alt of driver's license
   • In order to enter the building, I need to show my license.

Forms

Deriveds

driving license · license to print money · multi-license · dramatic license · end user license agreement · sub-license · provisional license · perpetual license · crayon license · off-license · license fee · licensor · learner's license · marriage license · licensure · driver's license · beginner's license · high license · shrinkwrap license · artistic license · vanity license plate · multilicense · public license · license laundering · shrink-wrap license · licentiously · colicense · licentiousness · clickwrap license · poetic license · licensee · BSD license · licentious · bare license · licenselike · license plate · naked license · license-free · sublicense · licenseless · MIT license

Descendants

ليسن

Relateds

licentious · licensure

Translations (177)

hi लाइसेंस (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fr licence (legal document giving official permission to do something) · cy trwydded (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ar إِذْن (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ru лице́нзия (legal terms of product usage) · bn লাইসেন্স (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sq liçensë (legal document giving official permission to do something) · et litsents (legal document giving official permission to do something) · nb lisens (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ja ライセンス (legal terms of product usage) · ka ლიცენზია (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ota برات (legal document giving official permission to do something) · bg своево́лие (excessive freedom) · tr ruhsat (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fa-ira لیسانْس (legal terms of product usage) · sk licencia (legal document giving official permission to do something) · km ពែរមី (legal document giving official permission to do something) · cop ⲁⲣⲣⲱⲕⲥⲉ (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fi vapaus (freedom to deviate from rules) · et luba (legal document giving official permission to do something) · hu engedély (legal document giving official permission to do something) · hi अनुज्ञप्ति (legal terms of product usage) · tg литсензия (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fa-cls مُجَوِّز (legal document giving official permission to do something) · aii ܡܲܦܣܵܢܘܼܬܵܐ (legal document giving official permission to do something) · hi अनुज्ञा (legal document giving official permission to do something) · mi raihana (legal terms of product usage) · ja やりたい放題 (excessive freedom) · ar رُخْصَة (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ko 면허증 (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ru своево́лие (excessive freedom) · tr lisans (legal terms of product usage) · hy լիցենզիա (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sh лѝце̄нца (legal document giving official permission to do something) · uz parvona (legal document giving official permission to do something) · es licencia (legal terms of product usage) · bg разреши́телно (legal document giving official permission to do something) · de Erlaubnis (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ur اِذْن (legal document giving official permission to do something) · cs licence (legal terms of product usage) · fi ajokortti (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fi vastuuttomuus (excessive freedom) · fa-cls پَرْوانِه (legal document giving official permission to do something) · uk до́звіл (legal document giving official permission to do something) · th ใบอนุญาต (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ko 면허 (legal terms of product usage) · fa-cls اِجازِهنامِه (legal document giving official permission to do something) · bg лице́нз (legal terms of product usage) · ja ライセンス (legal document giving official permission to do something) · hi अनुज्ञप्ति (legal document giving official permission to do something) · it licenza (legal document giving official permission to do something) · nl bandeloosheid (excessive freedom) · la licentia (freedom to deviate from rules) · he רִשָּׁיוֹן (legal document giving official permission to do something) · tr lisans (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fa-cls اِجَازَه (legal document giving official permission to do something) · bg лице́нз (legal document giving official permission to do something) · cmn 許可證 /许可证 (legal document giving official permission to do something) · tg парвона (legal document giving official permission to do something) · el άδεια (legal document giving official permission to do something) · pl licencja (legal terms of product usage) · ro licență (legal document giving official permission to do something) · kk лицензия (legal document giving official permission to do something) · is leyfi (legal document giving official permission to do something) · vi bằng (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fa-cls اِذْن (legal document giving official permission to do something) · pt licença (legal terms of product usage) · hu szabadság (freedom to deviate from rules) · tk lisenziýa (legal document giving official permission to do something) · uz ruxsat (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fi lupakirja (legal document giving official permission to do something) · eo permesilo (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ja 放縦 (excessive freedom) · bg свобо́дия (excessive freedom) · de Lizenz (legal terms of product usage) · hu engedély (legal terms of product usage) · ca permís (legal document giving official permission to do something) · pl licencja (legal document giving official permission to do something) · mi raihana (legal document giving official permission to do something) · da licens (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ca llicència (freedom to deviate from rules) · ky лицензия (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ru удостовере́ние (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ar رُخْصَة (legal terms of product usage) · tg лисензия (legal document giving official permission to do something) · es licencia (legal document giving official permission to do something) · cs licence (legal document giving official permission to do something) · nl vergunning (legal document giving official permission to do something) · pl pozwolenie (legal document giving official permission to do something) · gl licenza (legal terms of product usage) · tk rugsat (legal document giving official permission to do something) · pt licença (legal document giving official permission to do something) · gl permiso (legal document giving official permission to do something) · uk ліце́нзія (legal terms of product usage) · fi valtakirja (legal document giving official permission to do something) · hu szabadosság (excessive freedom) · hu kicsapongás (excessive freedom) · de Lizenz (legal document giving official permission to do something) · be дазво́л (legal document giving official permission to do something) · uk ліце́нзія (legal document giving official permission to do something) · id lisensi (legal document giving official permission to do something) · it permesso (legal document giving official permission to do something) · pt licença (freedom to deviate from rules) · it licenza (legal terms of product usage) · ja 免許 (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ta உரிமம் (legal document giving official permission to do something) · lo ອະນຸຍາດ (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sv licens (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sl licenca (legal document giving official permission to do something) · el άδεια (legal terms of product usage) · cmn 執照 /执照 (legal document giving official permission to do something) · nl vergunning (freedom to deviate from rules) · sh lìcēnca (legal document giving official permission to do something) · nb tillatelse (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ar تَصْرِيح (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ga ceadúnas (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ta உரிமம் (legal terms of product usage) · lv licence (legal document giving official permission to do something) · hu licenc (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ja 免許 (legal terms of product usage) · az lisenziya (legal terms of product usage) · es licencia (excessive freedom) · de Genehmigung (legal document giving official permission to do something) · gl licenza (freedom to deviate from rules) · be ліцэ́нзія (legal document giving official permission to do something) · nl vergunning (legal terms of product usage) · ur اِجازَت نامَہ (legal document giving official permission to do something) · arz رخصة (legal document giving official permission to do something) · tg иҷозатнома (legal document giving official permission to do something) · mn үнэмлэх (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fi lisenssi (legal terms of product usage) · pl swawola (freedom to deviate from rules) · uz ijozatnoma (legal document giving official permission to do something) · tg рухсат (legal document giving official permission to do something) · de Schein (legal document giving official permission to do something) · bg позволи́телно (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ca llicència (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sq licencë (legal document giving official permission to do something) · mk лице́нца (legal document giving official permission to do something) · cmn 執照 /执照 (legal terms of product usage) · az rüxsət (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fi -kortti (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sv tillståndshandling (legal document giving official permission to do something) · haw palapala ʻae (legal document giving official permission to do something) · es licencia (freedom to deviate from rules) · pt alvará (legal document giving official permission to do something) · th อนุญาต (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fr licence (legal terms of product usage) · nl licentie (legal terms of product usage) · ms lesen (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fa-cls لیسانْس (legal document giving official permission to do something) · hi अनुज्ञापत्र (legal document giving official permission to do something) · uz litsenziya (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ur لائِسِنْس (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ur رُخْصَت (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ru лице́нзия (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sv tillstånd (legal document giving official permission to do something) · da tilladelse (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ko 라이센스 (legal terms of product usage) · eo permesilo (legal terms of product usage) · bn এজাজতনামা (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ru разреше́ние (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ota تذكره (legal document giving official permission to do something) · km អាជ្ញាប័ណ្ណ (legal document giving official permission to do something) · sv licens (legal terms of product usage) · my လိုင်စင် (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ru своево́лие (freedom to deviate from rules) · vi giấy phép (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ko 라이선스 (legal terms of product usage) · pl swawola (excessive freedom) · gl licenza (legal document giving official permission to do something) · es impetra (freedom to deviate from rules) · ko 면허 (legal document giving official permission to do something) · ca llicència (excessive freedom) · az lisenziya (legal document giving official permission to do something) · fa-cls رُخْصَت (legal document giving official permission to do something) · lt licencija (legal document giving official permission to do something)

license en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈlaɪ.səns/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English licencen, licensen, lisensen, licent, from Old French licencer, licencier, licenciier, licenser, from Medieval Latin licentiō (cf. English licentiate).

Meanings

1. (US) To authorize officially.
   • I am licensed to practice law in this state.
2. (US, transitive) (applied to a piece of intellectual property) ▸ To give formal authorization to use.
   • The ability to shift profits to low-tax countries by locating intellectual property in them, which is then licensed to related businesses in high-tax countries, is often assumed to be the preserve of high-tech companies. 2013 June 22, “T time”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 68:
   • It was decided to license Wikipedia under the GFDL.
3. (US, transitive) (applied to a piece of intellectual property) ▸ To acquire authorization to use, usually in exchange for compensation.
   • They changed their campaign, licensed the song and used it for over six years in all of their advertising. 2007, Steve Swayne, How Sondheim Found His Sound:
   • The filmmakers licensed several iconic 80's songs for the soundtrack.
   • As part of the strategic relationship, Microsoft has licensed the image segmentation, compression and viewing technology from ScanSoft. 2000, International Journal of Micrographics & Optical Technology:
4. (US, transitive) To give permission or freedom to; accept.
   • Intruders there were in Harley Street, of whom it was not aware; but Mr and Mrs Merdle it delighted to honour. Society was aware of Mr and Mrs Merdle. Society had said ‘Let us license them; let us know them.’ 1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC:
5. (US, transitive) To permit (as grammatically correct).
   • Kayne argues that the crucial fact which licenses preposition stranding in English but not in French is the fact that in English verbs and prepositions assign Case similarly, and hence they govern similarly. 2014, Hagit Borer, Parametric Syntax: Case Studies in Semitic and Romance Languages:
   • No English adverbs have mandatory complements, and most don't even license optional ones.

Forms

Deriveds

licensor · licensable · crosslicense · relicense · licensee · unlicense · licenser · delicense · sublicense

Translations (29)

es subscribirse (to acquire authorization to use) · el δίνω άδεια (to authorize officially) · bg разреша (to authorize officially) · bg разрешавам (to authorize officially) · hu licencel (to give formal authorization to use) · es licenciarse (to acquire authorization to use) · bg лицензирам (to give formal authorization to use) · sv ge tillstånd) (to give formal authorization to use) · sv ge tillstånd) (to authorize officially) · es licenciar (to give formal authorization to use) · es licenciar (to authorize officially) · sv licensiera (to give formal authorization to use) · sv licensiera (to authorize officially) · hu engedélyez (to authorize officially) · fi lisensioida (to give formal authorization to use) · mi raihana (to authorize officially) · mi raihana (to give formal authorization to use) · nl vergunnen toekennen (to give formal authorization to use) · de lizenzieren (to authorize officially) · cy trwyddedu (to give formal authorization to use) · nl licentiëren (to authorize officially) · fi valtuuttaa (to give formal authorization to use) · nl licentiëren (to give formal authorization to use) · es subscribir (to acquire authorization to use) · nl toelaten (to authorize officially) · nl vergunnen toekennen (to authorize officially) · fi valtuuttaa (to authorize officially) · de lizenzieren (to give formal authorization to use) · el αδειοδοτώ (to authorize officially)