Definition of "license" in English

noun

1. A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.

2. The legal terms under which a person is allowed to use a product, especially software.

3. Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behaviour or speech).

4. Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint.

5. Ellipsis of driver's license.

   • In order to enter the building, I need to show my license.

verb

1. To authorize officially.

   • I am licensed to practice law in this state.

2. (transitive) (applied to a piece of intellectual property)

3. (transitive) To give permission or freedom to; accept.

4. (linguistics, transitive) To permit (as grammatically correct).

   • No English adverbs have mandatory complements, and most don't even license optional ones.