licence

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li·cence

(lī′səns)

n. & v. Chiefly British

Variant of license.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

licence

(ˈlaɪsəns) or

license

1. (Law) a certificate, tag, document, etc, giving official permission to do something

2. formal permission or exemption

3. liberty of action or thought; freedom

4. intentional disregard of or deviation from conventional rules to achieve a certain effect: poetic licence.

5. excessive freedom

6. licentiousness

[C14: via Old French and Medieval Latin licentia permission, from Latin: freedom, from licet it is allowed]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

li•cense

(ˈlaɪ səns)

n., v. -censed, -cens•ing. n.

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.

v.t.

9. to issue or grant a license to.

10. to give permission to; authorize.

[1325–75; Middle English licence < Middle French < Medieval Latin licentia authorization, Latin: freedom =licent-, s. of licēns, present participle of licēre to be allowed + -ia -ia]

li′cens•a•ble, adj.

li′cens•er; esp. Law, li•cen•sor (ˈlaɪ sən sər, ˌlaɪ sənˈsɔr) n.

licence

– license

1. 'licence'

In British English, a licence is an official document which gives you permission to do, use, or own something.

I haven't got a television licence.

Keep your driving licence on you.

2. 'license' used as a noun

In American English, this word is spelled license.

A photo identification, such as a driver's license, is required.

3. 'license' used as a verb

In both British and American English, if you are licensed to do something, you have official permission to do it.

These men are licensed to carry firearms.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	licence - 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 license liberty - freedom of choice; "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes"
	2.	licence - freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech) license liberty - freedom of choice; "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes" poetic license - license used by a writer or artist to heighten the effect of their work
	3.	licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something license, permit legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument - (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right building permit - a document authorizing the holder to construct a building of a particular kind on a particular lot driver's licence, driver's license, driving licence, driving license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle fishing licence, fishing license, fishing permit - a license authorizing the bearer to fish during a specified period of time game license, hunting licence, hunting license, hunting permit - a license authorizing the bearer to kill a certain type of animal during a specified period of time learner's permit - a document authorizing the bearer to learn to drive an automobile letter of mark and reprisal, letter of marque, letters of marque - a license to a private citizen to seize property of another nation liquor licence, liquor license - a license authorizing the holder to sell alcoholic beverages marriage licence, marriage license, wedding licence, wedding license - a license authorizing two people to marry occupation licence, occupation license - a license to pursue a particular occupation liberty chit, pass - a permit to enter or leave a military installation; "he had to show his pass in order to get out" law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
Verb	1.	licence - authorize officially; "I am licensed to practice law in this state" license, certify authorize, authorise, clear, pass - grant authorization or clearance for; "Clear the manuscript for publication"; "The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography" franchise - grant a franchise to charter - grant a charter to accredit, recognise, recognize - grant credentials to; "The Regents officially recognized the new educational institution"; "recognize an academic degree"

licence

noun

1. certificate, document, permit, charter, warrant The painting was returned on a temporary import licence.

2. permission, the right, authority, leave, sanction, liberty, privilege, immunity, entitlement, exemption, prerogative, authorization, dispensation, a free hand, carte blanche, blank cheque The curfew gave the police licence to hunt people as if they were animals.
permission restriction, denial, prohibition

3. freedom, creativity, latitude, independence, liberty, deviation, leeway, free rein, looseness All that stuff about catching a giant fish was just a bit of poetic licence.
freedom restraint, constraint

4. laxity, abandon, disorder, excess, indulgence, anarchy, lawlessness, impropriety, irresponsibility, profligacy, licentiousness, unruliness, immoderation a world of licence and corruption
laxity moderation, strictness

under licence with permission, under a charter, under warrant, under a permit, with authorization, under a patent They made the Mig-21 jet fighter under licence from Russia.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

رُخْصَةٌرُخْصَه

povoleníkonceseoprávnění

tilladelse=-kortlicens

Lizenz Erlaubnis Konzession

άδεια

licencia permiso

lupa

permis débit licence

dozvola

leyfi; skírteini

licenza licenza poetica nullaosta patente patente di guida

免許

면허

duoti licencijąlicencijalicencijos turėtojasturintis teisę pardavinėti alkoholį

atļaujalicencepatents

vergunning

-kort -lisens tillatelse

licencja

licença

разрешение

licens

ใบอนุญาต

ehliyetizin belgesilisans ruhsat

giấy phép

执照许可证

licence

license¹ (US) [ˈlaɪsəns]

A. N

1. (= permit) → permiso m, licencia f (Aut) → permiso m de conducir, carnet m (de conducir)
dog licence → licencia f para tener licencia
export licence → permiso m or licencia f de exportación
fishing licence → permiso m or licencia f de pesca
full licence (Aut) → carnet m or permiso m de conducir (definitivo)
import licence → licencia f or permiso m de importación
he lost his licence (Aut) → le retiraron el carnet or permiso
provisional licence (Aut) permiso o licencia de conducir que se obtiene antes de sacarse el carnet definitivo
they were married by special licence → se casaron con una licencia especial
to manufacture sth under licence → fabricar algo bajo licencia
see also driving C
see also television B

2. (= freedom)

2.1. (pej) such a policy would give people a licence to break the law → una política semejante serviría de excusa para que la gente violase la ley
to give sb a licence to kill → darle a algn licencia para matar
it's a licence to print money → es una mina de oro

2.2. (Art, Literat) → licencia f
artistic/poetic licence → licencia artística/poética
you can allow some licence in translation → se pueden aceptar algunas libertades al traducir

3. (= immorality) → libertinaje m

B. CPD licence fee N (Brit) (TV) cuota que debe pagarse para el uso de un televisor
licence holder N (Aut) → titular mf del carnet or permiso de conducir
licence number, licence plate N (Aut) → matrícula f, placa f, patente f (S. Cone)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

licence

[ˈlaɪs^əns] (British) license (US) n

(= permit) (for driving a vehicle, owning a firearm, fishing) → permis m; (for trading) → licence f; (for TV) → redevance f
import licence → licence f d'importation
export licence → licence f d'exportation
produced under licence → fabriqué(e) sous licence

(= excessive freedom) → licence f
to give sb licence to do sth → donner à qn la licence de faire qchlicence fee n (British) (for TV) → redevance flicence number (British) license number (US) n

[driving licence] → numéro m de permis de conduire

(US) [car] → numéro m d'immatriculationlicence plate (British) license plate (US) n → plaque f d'immatriculation

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

licence

, (US) license

(= permit) → Genehmigung f, → Erlaubnis f; (by authority) → behördliche Genehmigung, Konzession f; (Comm) → Lizenz f; (= driving licence) → Führerschein m; (= road licence) → Kfz-Steuer f; (= gun licence) → Waffenschein m; (= hunting licence) → Jagdschein m; (= marriage licence) → Eheerlaubnis f; (= radio/television licence) → (Rundfunk-/Fernseh)genehmigung f; (= dog licence) → Hundemarke f; he hasn’t paid his (dog) licence → er hat seine Hundesteuer nicht bezahlt; you have to have a (television) licence → man muss Fernsehgebühren bezahlen; a licence to practise medicine (Brit), a license to practice medicine (US) → die Approbation, die staatliche Zulassung als Arzt; the restaurant has lost its licence (to sell drinks) → das Restaurant hat seine Schankerlaubnis or Konzession verloren; we’ll get a late licence for the reception → für den Empfang bekommen wir eine Genehmigung für verlängerte Ausschankzeiten; a licence to kill → ein Freibrief m → zum Töten; it is just a licence to print money (fig) → es ist ein sehr lukratives Geschäft; to manufacture something under licence → etw in Lizenz herstellen; to give somebody licence to do something → jdm erlauben, etw zu tun

(= freedom) → Freiheit f; translated with considerable licence → sehr frei übersetzt

(= excessive freedom) → Zügellosigkeit f; there is too much licence in sexual matters/the cinema nowadays → in sexuellen Dingen/im Kino geht es heutzutage zu freizügig zu

licence

licence fee

n (Brit TV) → ˜ Fernsehgebühr f

licence number, (US) license number

n (Aut) → Kraftfahrzeug- or Kfz-Kennzeichen nt

licence plate, (US) license plate

n (Aut) → Nummernschild nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

licence

(Am) license¹ [ˈlaɪs/əns] n

a. (permit) → autorizzazione f, permesso; (for car) → bollo, tassa di circolazione (also driving licence) (Am) (also driver's licence) → patente f di guida (Comm) → licenza; (for dog) → tassa (TV, Radio) → abbonamento; (amount paid) → canone m, abbonamento
they were married by special licence → si sono sposati con dispensa
provisional driving licence → foglio rosa
pilot's licence → brevetto (di pilota)
import licence → licenza di importazione
produced under licence → prodotto/a su licenza

b. (freedom) → libertà; (excessive freedom) → licenza, eccessiva libertà

licence

(American) license (ˈlaisəns) noun

a (printed) form giving permission to do something (eg to keep a television set etc, drive a car, sell alcohol etc). a driving licence.

ˈlicense verb

to give a licence to or permit. He is licensed to sell alcohol.

ˈlicensed adjective

(of a shop, hotel etc) legally allowed to sell alcohol to customers. a licensed grocer.

licenˈsee noun

a person to whom a licence (especially to keep a licensed hotel or public house) has been given.

licence is a noun: a licence (not license) to sell alcohol.
license is a verb: licensed (not licenced) to drive a goods vehicle.

licence

→ رُخْصَةٌ povolení tilladelse Lizenz άδεια licencia lupa permis dozvola licenza 免許 면허 vergunning tillatelse licencja licença разрешение licens ใบอนุญาต ehliyet giấy phép 执照

li·cense

, licence

n. licencia, permiso;

medical ___ → ___ para ejercer la medicina.

References in classic literature ?

These licenses were granted in writing by the governor-general, and at first were given only to persons of respectability; to gentlemen of broken fortunes; to old officers of the army who had families to provide for; or to their widows.

View in context

The critics, therefore, are in error who censure these licenses of speech, and hold the author up to ridicule.

View in context

More potent intoxicants these than any that need licenses for their purveyance, responsible-- see the poets--for no end of human foolishness.

View in context

Therefore he did not dare to shoulder the risk of constructing a second system of wires, and at last consented to give licenses to private companies.

View in context

"The licenses for the Flibberty and the Emily don't allow for one hundred and fifty.

View in context

"Thank you, sir," said Jerry, "but I have only taken out a six-days' license,* and therefore I could not take a fare on a Sunday; it would not be legal."

View in context

That there be two rates of usury: the one free, and general for all; the other under license only, to certain persons, and in certain places of merchandizing.

View in context

"'That the said Quinbus Flestrin, contrary to the duty of a faithful subject, is now preparing to make a voyage to the court and empire of Blefuscu, for which he has received only verbal license from his imperial majesty; and, under colour of the said license, does falsely and traitorously intend to take the said voyage, and thereby to aid, comfort, and abet the emperor of Blefuscu, so lately an enemy, and in open war with his imperial majesty aforesaid.'

View in context

"As good almost kill a man as kill a good book," he said, and again "Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to my conscience above all liberties." He held the licensing law in contempt, and to show his contempt he published Areopagitica without a license and without giving the printer's or bookseller's name.

View in context

``How, sir?'' said his master; ``you shall to the porter's lodge, and taste of the discipline there, if you give your foolery such license.''

View in context

This meant getting a First Class teacher's license in one year instead of two, if they were successful; but it also meant much more and harder work.

View in context

That it is true his other virtues would not have been sufficient for him may be proved by the case of Scipio, that most excellent man, not only of his own times but within the memory of man, against whom, nevertheless, his army rebelled in Spain; this arose from nothing but his too great forbearance, which gave his soldiers more license than is consistent with military discipline.