From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlicenceli‧cence British English, license American English /ˈlaɪsəns/ ●●● S3 W2 noun 1 document [countable]LET/ALLOW 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 licence2 agreement [countable, uncountable] an agreement with a company or organization giving permission to make, sell, or use their productunder 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 agreement3 freedom [uncountable]FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT 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 licence5 excuse [countable, uncountable]RIGHT/HAVE THE RIGHT TO the freedom or opportunity to behave in a way that is wrong or immorallicence to do something Police say it gives youngsters licence to break the law.6 → licence to print moneyCOLLOCATIONSverbshave a licenceCafé 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 licenceNew private pilots must fly for at least fifty hours before getting their licences.apply for a licenceA doctor who moves to another state must apply for a license to practice medicine there.grant/issue a licenceHe was granted his flying instructor’s licence.renew a licenceThe licence must be renewed yearly.lose your licenceThe 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 somebody’s licence (also revoke somebody's licence formal)The doctor had his license revoked after he was found to be on drugs.types of licencea driving licence British English, a driver's license American English80 percent of 18 year olds had a driver’s license.a pilot’s licenceShe 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 licenceAn 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 + NOUNthe licence holder British English (=the person who has a licence)the licence holder of a public housea 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.
Examples from the Corpus
licence• Do you have a licence for that gun?• The tenor of the 1976 Act is permissive: a licence should be granted unless good cause is shown justifying refusal.• Some manufacturers see the current labelling regulations as licence to mislead shoppers.• Prevention of overloading is another important target for the would-be licence holder.• Take your governing body licence along for good measure.• However, operating under cover of a domestic licence does seem rather restrictive in today's international business environment.• Eventually his licence was taken away because he didn't have enough horses.• The University will organise arrangements for backup, copying and distribution of software and documentation subject to the conditions of the relevant licence.• Go slightly faster and you could wave goodbye to your licence.grant a licence• The organisers have been granted a licence in the face of strong local objections.• For example, an owner of land could grant a licence to cut and remove standing timber.• In some cases a patentee can be compelled to grant a licence to use his patent on reasonable terms.• Instead, Barlow Clowes was granted a licence.• For instance, in 1666 he was granted a licence for the cultivation of senna in the plantations.• He took out a permit; then, mustering a few owners, he was granted a licence to train at Compton.• The means was to restrict the legal provision of credit to those who applied for it and were granted a licence.single-user/10-user/site licence• However, conditions may be attached to any site licence which may have the effect of preventing any odour pollution from arising.licence to do something• For example, an owner of land could grant a licence to cut and remove standing timber.• They took this to mean a licence to torture and shoot.• By the late 1620s, it was impossible to obtain a licence to publish any theological books containing predestinarian opinions.• Cures were tried twice without effect, and his licence to box was refused on medical grounds in September 1939.• Freedom in an unfree world is merely licence to exploit.• That was the day our new licence to broadcast came into force.• Sherwood has just won the licence to sell socks at Paris's EuroDisney park.From Longman Business Dictionarylicenceli‧cence /ˈlaɪsəns/ British English, license American English noun1[countable]LAWCOMMERCE an official document giving you permission to own or do something for a period of timeThe charity organization has applied for a city business license to operate weekly bingo games.The factory’s operating license will not be granted until after the inspection. → compare permit2[countable, uncountable] disapproving official permission to do something, which seems wronglicence forState Governments are concerned that the revised tax laws will provide a license for tax evasion.3licence to print money disapproving used in order to say that a situation gives someone a chance to make a lot of money very easily, without much workFranchising isn’t always a licence to print money. It can take a lot of hard work and personal effort.4[uncountable]LAWCOMMERCE if something is sold, made etc under licence, it is sold etc with the permission of the company or organization who owns the PATENT (=the legal right to make or sell a new product) or the COPYRIGHT (=the legal right to be the only producer or seller of a book, play, film, or record)It can appoint a foreign company to manufacture its product under licence.The license agreement has not led to a reduction in its own design efforts. 