license Definition

licence
license
noun

1a. An official document that allows someone to drive;
1b. An official document that allows someone to own a dog, gun, etc;
(Brit)
1c. An official document showing that a household has paid a fee and may therefore watch TV and listen to the radio;
1d. Official permission to sell alcohol;
1e. Official permission for two people to marry.
2. Permission or leave in general.

Thesaurus: permission, authorization, authority, entitlement, latitude, carte blanche, leave.
3. Excessive freedom of action or speech.
4. A departure from a rule or convention, especially by writers and artists, for effect.

Example: poetic licence

Idiom: on licence

Said of a prisoner: released before serving all of a sentence.

Etymology: 14c: from Latin licentia, from licere to be allowed.

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license
verb licensed, licensing

1. To give a licence or permit for something such as the sale of alcohol.
2. To give a licence or permit to someone to do something such as drive, own a dog, get married, etc.

Thesaurus: warrant, permit, sanction, allow, authorize, certify, empower, entitle.

Etymology: 14c.