license

license

I

li‧cence S3 W2 British English, license American English /ˈlaɪsəns/ noun1.  DOCUMENT  [countable] an official document giving you permission to own or do something for a period of time ⇨ permit:
    The dealers applied for an export licence.
    He was arrested for driving without a license.
    The Tennessee Valley Authority applied for a license to operate the facility.
    The owner of land could grant a licence to cut and remove timber.
    I forgot to renew my licence.
    Persistent offenders face losing their licence. ⇨ driving licence
2.  AGREEMENT  [uncountable and countable] an agreement with a company or organization giving permission to make, sell, or use their product
    under licence
    Guinness is brewed under licence in South Africa.
    single-user/10-user/site licence (=permission for computer software to be used by a certain number of people or in a certain place only)
    a licence agreement
3.  FREEDOM  [uncountable] freedom to do or say what you think is best:
    Headteachers should be allowed greater licence in the exercise of their power.
4. artistic/poetic licence the way in which a painter or writer changes the facts of the real world to make their story, description, or picture of events more interesting or more beautiful
5.  EXCUSE  [uncountable and countable] the freedom or opportunity to behave in a way that is wrong or immoral
    licence to do something
    Police say it gives youngsters licence to break the law.
6. licence to print money an opportunity to make a lot of money without much work or effort – especially used to show disapproval
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ have a licence Café Metropole does not yet have a license to sell liquor.
   ▪ hold a licence British English (=have a licence) Police said that the man did not hold a firearms licence.
   ▪ get/gain/obtain a licence New private pilots must fly for at least fifty hours before getting their licences.
   ▪ apply for a licence A doctor who moves to another state must apply for a license to practice medicine there.
   ▪ grant/issue a licence He was granted his flying instructor’s licence.
   ▪ renew a licence The licence must be renewed yearly.
   ▪ lose your licence The police caught him driving while drunk and he will now lose his licence.
   ▪ a licence runs out (also a licence expires formal) (=it ends) Her driver’s license had expired.
   ▪ take away sb’s licence (also revoke somebody's licence formal) The doctor had his license revoked after he was found to be on drugs.
■ types of licence
   ▪ a driving licence British English, a driver's license American English 80 percent of 18 year olds had a driver’s license.
   ▪ a pilot’s licence She became the youngest woman to hold a pilot’s licence.
   ▪ a television licence British English (=which allows you to use your television and pays for public television programmes) Buying a television means you will need a television licence.
   ▪ a marriage licence (=a licence that allows two people to marry each other) We went to get a marriage licence.
   ▪ a fishing/hunting licence (=a licence that allows you to fish/hunt) He renewed his hunting license.
   ▪ an import/export licence An export licence was issued in August last year.
   ▪ a provisional licence British English (=a temporary driving licence before you get your full licence) Learner drivers need to obtain a provisional licence.
   ▪ a full licence (=one that is not temporary and has no restrictions) They offer insurance cover for drivers over 25 and under 70 years of age with a full licence.
■ licence + NOUN
   ▪ the licence holder British English (=the person who has a licence) the licence holder of a public house
   ▪ a licence fee (=money you have to pay to get a licence) The BBC is funded by a licence fee which all television owners have to pay.

II

li‧cense AC (also licence British English) /ˈlaɪsəns/ verb [transitive usually passive]to give official permission for someone to do or produce something, or for an activity to take place
    be licensed to do something
    a restaurant which is licensed to sell alcohol
    The vaccine has been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration.