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:

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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

Spanish / Español

Select a language:

licencia permiso

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

(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.licencia, permiso

ˈlicense verb

to give a licence to or permit. He is licensed to sell alcohol.autorizar, dar permiso

ˈlicensed adjective

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

licenˈsee noun

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

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

licence

→ licencia

li·cense

, licence

n. licencia, permiso;

medical ___ → ___ para ejercer la medicina.

References in classic literature ?

Goes through the archvay, thinking how he should inwest the money--up comes the touter, touches his hat--"Licence, Sir, licence?"--"What's that?" says my father.-- "Licence, Sir," says he.--"What licence?" says my father.-- "Marriage licence," says the touter.--"Dash my veskit," says my father, "I never thought o' that."--"I think you wants one, Sir," says the touter.

'Licence, dearest of angels--give notice at the church--call you mine, to-morrow'--said Mr.

View in context

1st there was still no money, and Pickles was unable to buy a dog licence.

"It is your own fault for being a terrier; I do not require a licence, and neither does Kep, the Collie dog."

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I seem to have been carrying the licence about, in my pocket, many months.

Of Sophy telling us that when she saw Traddles (whom I had entrusted with the licence) asked for it, she almost fainted, having been convinced that he would contrive to lose it, or to have his pocket picked.

View in context

A licence will be quieter for us, and I have decided on a licence without consulting you.

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Was it likely they would have given him a licence, he inquired desperately, if -

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