Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
libretti
librettist
libretto
Libreville
Libya
Libyan Desert
lice
licence plate
license
license plate
licensed practical nurse
licensed premises
licensee
licensing agreement
licensure
licentiate
licentious
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

license

li·cense [ lss'nss ]


noun  (plural li·cens·es)
Definition:
 
1. permit: a printed document that gives official permission to a person or group to own something or do something

2. U.S. law legal authorization: official permission to do something, either from a government or under a law or regulation

3. U.S. chance to do something: the opportunity to do something, especially when this goes beyond normal limits
a license to print money

4. permission to bend truth: the freedom of a writer or artist to rearrange the facts of ordinary life in order to make a more striking effect
artistic license

5. U.S. lack of restraint: freedom in behavior or speech that exceeds what is considered appropriate



transitive verb  (past and past participle li·censed, present participle li·cens·ing, 3rd person present singular li·cens·es)
Definition:
 
formally allow somebody to do something: to give official permission for somebody to do something or for an activity to take place ( often passive )
He was licensed to practice medicine in the United States.

[14th century. Via French< Latin licentia "freedom" < licere "be allowed"]

li·cens·a·ble adjective
li·censed adjective
li·cen·ser noun
li·cen·sor noun
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft