license

Plurallicenses

Formslicenses, licensing, licensed

1. 1
   legal permissionnouncountable

   An official paper that gives you permission to do something, like drive or sell food.

   Like a permission slip that says you are allowed to do something.

   You need a license to drive a car on public roads.

   The shop finally got a license to sell food.

   Similarpermit, authorization, certificate, warrant

   Note
2. 2
   usage termsnouncountable

   The rules that say how you are allowed to use something, often software.

   Like the rules you agree to before playing a game online.

   Read the license before you install the game.

   This license lets you use the app on two computers.

   Similaragreement

3. 3
   issue permitsverbtransitive

   To give official permission for something.

   Like a teacher giving you a pass to leave the room.

   The city will license the new taxi drivers next month.

   Officials license vendors who pass the safety check.

   Similarcertify, accredit, authorize, permit

   Oppositeban, prohibit, forbid, disqualify

   Note
4. 4
   driver's cardnouncountableabbreviationellipsis

   Short for driver's license. The everyday word for the card that shows you are allowed to drive.

   A police officer asked to see his license.

   She passed her test and got her license at sixteen.

   Note
5. 5
   let others useverbtransitive

   To officially allow someone to use something you own, such as a song or design.

   Like letting a friend use your bike if they ask first.

   The band agreed to license their music for the movie.

   She licenses her photos to magazines for a fee.

   Similarlease, franchise

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To pay to get official permission to use something, like software or music.

   Like renting a movie instead of buying it.

   The company licensed the software from a bigger firm.

   They license music tracks to play in their stores.

   Similaracquire, lease, rent

   Note
7. 7
   bending rulesnoununcountable

   Freedom to break the usual rules on purpose, often in art or speech.

   Like being allowed to color outside the lines on purpose.

   The poet used license to bend the rules of grammar.

   Artists are given some license to change the facts in a story.

   Similarlatitude, freedom, leeway, liberty

   Oppositerestraint, constraint

   Note
8. 8
   allowverbtransitive

   To allow someone to do something or behave a certain way.

   Like a coach letting players try their own moves.

   The rules license students to leave early on Fridays.

   Their parents licensed them to stay out later on weekends.

   Similarallow, permit, authorize, empower, entitle

   Oppositeforbid, prohibit, bar, prevent

   Note
9. 9
   too much freedomnoununcountable

   Too much freedom, with no proper control or limits.

   Like a game with no rules where everyone does whatever they want.

   The soldiers behaved with complete license once the war ended.

   Without rules, the crowd fell into license and disorder.

   Similarpermissiveness, excess, abandon, anarchy, indiscipline

   Oppositerestraint, discipline, self-control, order

   Note

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