Library / English Dictionary

LICENCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A legal document giving official permission to do something

Synonyms:

licence; license; permit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("licence" is a kind of...):

instrument; legal document; legal instrument; official document ((law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "licence"):

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech)

Synonyms:

licence; license

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("licence" is a kind of...):

liberty (freedom of choice)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "licence"):

poetic license (license used by a writer or artist to heighten the effect of their work)

Derivation:

licence (authorize officially)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint

Example:

the intolerable license with which the newspapers break...the rules of decorum

Synonyms:

licence; license

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("licence" is a kind of...):

liberty (freedom of choice)

Derivation:

licentious (lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Authorize officially

Example:

I am licensed to practice law in this state

Synonyms:

certify; licence; license

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "licence" is one way to...):

authorise; authorize; clear; pass (grant authorization or clearance for)

"Licence" entails doing...:

approve; O.K.; okay; sanction (give sanction to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "licence"):

franchise (grant a franchise to)

charter (grant a charter to)

accredit; recognise; recognize (grant credentials to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

licence (freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech))

licensee (someone to whom a license is granted)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The husband, whose name was Thomas Benjamin, had taken out his marriage licence as Thomas only; suppressing the Benjamin, in case he should not find himself as comfortable as he expected.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mr. Spenlow had stepped out, old Tiffey said, to get a gentleman sworn for a marriage licence; but as I knew he would be back directly, our place lying close to the Surrogate's, and to the Vicar-General's office too, I told Peggotty to wait.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As to marriage licences, the competition rose to such a pitch, that a shy gentleman in want of one, had nothing to do but submit himself to the first inveigler, or be fought for, and become the prey of the strongest.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

With that, he paid the money for his licence; and, receiving it neatly folded from Mr. Spenlow, together with a shake of the hand, and a polite wish for his happiness and the lady's, went out of the office.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

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.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The last time I was in the Commons, a civil able-bodied person in a white apron pounced out upon me from a doorway, and whispering the word Marriage-licence in my ear, was with great difficulty prevented from taking me up in his arms and lifting me into a proctor's.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Now I was ragged, wanting to sell Dora matches, six bundles for a halfpenny; now I was at the office in a nightgown and boots, remonstrated with by Mr. Spenlow on appearing before the clients in that airy attire; now I was hungrily picking up the crumbs that fell from old Tiffey's daily biscuit, regularly eaten when St. Paul's struck one; now I was hopelessly endeavouring to get a licence to marry Dora, having nothing but one of Uriah Heep's gloves to offer in exchange, which the whole Commons rejected; and still, more or less conscious of my own room, I was always tossing about like a distressed ship in a sea of bed-clothes.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)