Толковый словарь английского языка

[Word Family: noun: ↑licence, ↑licensee; verb: ↑license; adjective: ↑licensed]

1. 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.

[Word Family: noun: ↑licence, ↑licensee; verb: ↑license; adjective: ↑licensed]

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.