license
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.an official document that gives you permission to do or own something.
n.a formal document or permit issued by an authority granting permission to perform a specific action or own a specific item.
Simple“You must carry your driver's license whenever you are behind the wheel.”
In context“The restaurant was forced to close temporarily after failing to renew its liquor license before the annual deadline.”
UsageIn American English, 'license' is used for both the noun and the verb.
PitfallI need to renew my driving licence. I need to renew my driver's license.In American English, the spelling is 'license' for both the noun and verb; in British English, the noun is spelled 'licence'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the legal rules that say how you are allowed to use a product, like a computer program.
n.the legal terms and conditions governing the use of intellectual property, particularly software or media.
Simple“Please read the software license before you click the install button.”
In context“The company purchased a site license that allowed all five hundred employees to use the design software simultaneously.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'end-user license agreement' (EULA).
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the freedom to change facts or break rules to create a special effect, especially in art or writing.
n.intentional deviation from fact, convention, or standard rules for artistic or rhetorical effect.
Simple“The director took some poetic license with the history to make the movie more exciting.”
In context“While the biographer was praised for his prose, critics noted he took considerable artistic license with the timeline of the subject's early life.”
UsageCommonly appears in the fixed phrases 'poetic license' or 'artistic license'.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to give someone official or legal permission to do something.
v.to grant official or legal authority to an individual or organization to perform a specific activity.
Simple“The city decided to license three new taxi companies this year.”
In context“The medical board is responsible for licensing doctors to ensure they meet the national standards for patient care.”
license vs licence — British English distinguishes between the noun licence and the verb license, while American English uses license for both forms.
Usage license plate
“Flock, based in Atlanta, Georgia, operates some 120,000 cameras across the US that capture images of vehicles and licence plates for storage in a searchable database.”
“She also said he could not be relied on to comply with licence requirements "especially when to do so might endanger his idea of himself as a victim".”
From Middle English licence, licens, lisence, lissens, licance, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave”).
From Middle English licencen, licensen, lisensen, licent, from Old French licencer, licencier, licenciier, licenser, from Medieval Latin licentiō (cf. English licentiate).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.