License
WordNet

noun


(1)   The act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization
(2)   A legal document giving official permission to do something
(3)   Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech)
(4)   Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint
"When liberty becomes license dictatorship is near"- Will Durant
"The intolerable license with which the newspapers break...the rules of decorum"- Edmund Burke

verb


(5)   Authorize officially
"I am licensed to practice law in this state"
WiktionaryText

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.

Etymology


From < < , ppr. of ; cf. , .

Noun


  1. A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.
  2. 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.
  3. Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech).
  4. 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.
  5. An academic degree, the holder of which is called a licentiate, ranking slightly below doctorate, awarded by certain European and Latin-American universities.

Verb



  1. The act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization.
    It was decided to license Wikipedia under the GFDL.
  2. Authorize officially.
    I am licensed to practice law in this state.
 
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