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patent

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
pat·ent  (ptnt)
n.
1.
a. A grant made by a government that confers upon the creator of an invention the sole right to make, use, and sell that invention for a set period of time.
b. Letters patent.
c. An invention protected by such a grant.
2.
a. A grant made by a government that confers on an individual fee-simple title to public lands.
b. The official document of such a grant.
c. The land so granted.
3. An exclusive right or title.
adj.
1.
a. Protected or conferred by a patent or letters patent: a patent right.
b. Of, relating to, or dealing in patents: patent law.
2. also (ptnt) Obvious; plain. See Synonyms at apparent.
3. (ptnt) Biology
a. Not blocked; open.
b. Spreading open; expanded.
4. Of, relating to, or being a nonprescription drug or other medical preparation that is often protected by a trademark.
5. Of high quality. Used of flour.
6. also (ptnt) Archaic Open to general inspection. Used especially of documents.
tr.v. pat·ent·ed, pat·ent·ing, pat·ents
1. To obtain a patent on or for (an invention, for example).
2. To invent, originate, or be the proprietor of (an idea, for example).
3. To grant a patent to or for.

[Middle English, document granting a right, short for (lettre) patent, open (letter), from Old French (lettre) patente, from Latin patns, patent-, open, present participle of patre, to be open; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]

patent·a·bili·ty n.
patent·a·ble adj.

patent
Noun
1.
a. an official document granting the exclusive right to make, use, and sell an invention for a limited period
b. the right granted by such a document
2. an invention protected by a patent
Adjective
1. open or available for inspection: letters patent
2. obvious: their scorn was patent to everyone
3. concerning protection of or appointment by a patent
4. (of food, drugs, etc.) made or held under a patent
Verb
to obtain a patent for (an invention) [Latin patere to lie open]
USAGE: The pronunciation pat-tunt is heard in letters patent and Patent Office and is the usual US pronunciation for all senses. In Britain pat-tunt is sometimes heard for senses 1, 2 and 3, but pay-tunt is commoner and is regularly used in collocations like patent leather.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.patentpatent - a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention
document, papers, written document - writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
2.patent - an official document granting a right or privilege
legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument - (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right
law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
Verb1.patent - obtain a patent for; "Should I patent this invention?"
procure, secure - get by special effort; "He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed"
2.patent - grant rights to; grant a patent for
register - record in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions
3.patent - make open to sight or notice; "His behavior has patented an embarrassing fact about him"
alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
Adj.1.patent - (of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage; "patent ductus arteriosus"
unobstructed - free from impediment or obstruction or hindrance; "an unobstructed view"
2.patent - clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment; "the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields"; "evident hostility"; "manifest disapproval"; "patent advantages"; "made his meaning plain"; "it is plain that he is no reactionary"; "in plain view"
obvious - easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind; "obvious errors"

patent
noun 1. copyright, licence, franchise, registered trademark
Translations
Spanish patent [ˈpeɪtnt] npatente f
vtpatentar
adjpatente, evidente

French patent [ˈpeɪtnt] (US) [ˈpætnt] nbrevet m (d'invention)
adjpatent(e)manifeste

German patent [ˈpeɪtnt] nPatent nt
adj (= obvious) → offensichtlich

Italian patent [ˈpeɪtnt] nbrevetto
vtbrevettare
adjpatente, manifesto/a

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That reminds me to remark, in passing, that the very first official thing I did, in my adminis- tration -- and it was on the very first day of it, too -- was to start a patent office; for I knew that a country without a patent office and good patent laws was just a crab, and couldn't travel any way but sideways or backways.
* The grants of land, made either by the crown or the state, were but letters patent under the great seal, and the term “patent” is usually applied to any district of extent thus conceded; though under the crown’, manorial rights being often granted with the soil, in the older counties the word “manor” is frequently used.
While stumbling through this Slough of Despond, he was called to Washington by his patent lawyer.
 
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