Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Nearby Entries
licenses - 2 dictionary results
Licensing
California's Online Local Search. Find Licensing Here.
California.Local.Com
California Driver License
California Licence Guide License, Forms, Locations, & Hours
www.dmv.org/California
Licenses Definition
Find Definitions For Any Word.Get Your Free Dictionary.com Toolbar.
Dictionary.com

li⋅cense

  [lahy-suhns] noun, verb, -censed, -cens⋅ing.
Use licenses in a Sentence
–noun
1. formal permission from a governmental or other constituted authority to do something, as to carry on some business or profession.
2. a certificate, tag, plate, etc., giving proof of such permission; official permit: a driver's license.
3. permission to do or not to do something.
4. intentional deviation from rule, convention, or fact, as for the sake of literary or artistic effect: poetic license.
5. exceptional freedom allowed in a special situation.
6. excessive or undue freedom or liberty.
7. licentiousness.
8. the legal right to use a patent owned by another.
–verb (used with object)
9. to grant authoritative permission or license to.
Origin:
1325–75; ME licence < MF < ML licentia authorization, L: freedom, equiv. to licent- (s. of licēns, prp. of licēre to be allowed) + -ia -ia; see -ence

Related forms:
li⋅cens⋅a⋅ble, adjective
li⋅cense⋅less, adjective
li⋅cens⋅er; especially Law, li⋅cen⋅sor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To licenses
li·cense   (lī'səns)   
n.  
    1. Official or legal permission to do or own a specified thing. See Synonyms at permission.
    2. A document, plate, or tag that is issued as proof of official or legal permission: a driver's license.
    3. Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom: "When liberty becomes license, dictatorship is near" (Will Durant).
    4. Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior; licentiousness.
  2. Deviation from normal rules, practices, or methods in order to achieve a certain end or effect.
  3. Latitude of action, especially in behavior or speech. See Synonyms at freedom.
    1. Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom: "When liberty becomes license, dictatorship is near" (Will Durant).
    2. Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior; licentiousness.
tr.v.   li·censed, li·cens·ing, li·cens·es
  1. To give or yield permission to or for.
  2. To grant a license to or for; authorize. See Synonyms at authorize.

[Middle English licence, from Old French, from Medieval Latin licentia, authorization, from Latin, freedom, from licēns, licent-, present participle of licēre, to be permitted.]
li'cens·a·ble adj., li'cens·er, li'cen·sor' (-sən-sôr') n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see licenses on Thesaurus | Reference
Licensing
California's Online Local Search. Find Licensing Here.
California.Local.Com
California Driver License
California Licence Guide License, Forms, Locations, & Hours
www.dmv.org/California