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license

Pronunciation: /ˈlʌɪs(ə)ns/

(British also licence)
Translate license | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of license

verb

[with object]
  • grant a licence to:a pub has to be licensed by the local justices [with object and infinitive]:he ought not to have been licensed to fly a plane (as adjective licensing)a licensing authority
  • authorize the use, performance, or release of (something):the company expect that the drug will soon be licensed for use in the USA
  • dated permit (someone) to do something: [with object and infinitive]:he was licensed to do no more than send a message

Derivatives

licensable

adjective

licenser

noun

licensor

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from licence. The spelling -se arose by analogy with pairs such as practice, practise

Do not confuse licence with license. Licence is a noun which means 'a permit to do something' (a driving licence), whereas license is a verb meaning 'give a permit to someone; allow something' (the loggers are licensed to cut mahogany trees). In American English, both the noun and the verb are spelled license.

license in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of license in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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