Dictionary

1patent

adjective pat·ent \1–3 are ˈpa-tənt, chiefly British ˈpā-; 4 ˈpā-; 5 ˈpā-, ˈpa-; 6–7 ˈpa-, ˈpā-, British usually ˈpā-\

: of, relating to, or concerned with patents

: obvious or clear

Full Definition of PATENT

1
a :  open to public inspection —used chiefly in the phrase letters patent
b (1) :  secured by letters patent or by a patent to the exclusive control and possession of a particular individual or party
(2) :  protected by a patent :  made under a patent <patent locks>
c :  protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent :  proprietary <patent drugs>
2
:  of, relating to, or concerned with the granting of patents especially for inventions <a patent lawyer>
3
:  making exclusive or proprietary claims or pretensions
4
:  affording free passage :  unobstructed <a patent opening>
5
:  patulous, spreading <a patent calyx>
6
archaic :  accessible, exposed
7
:  readily visible or intelligible :  obvious
pat·ent·ly adverb
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Origin of PATENT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin patent-, patens, from present participle of patēre to be open — more at fathom
First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of PATENT

evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended. evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion <an evident fondness for sweets>. manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required <manifest hostility>. patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it <patent defects>. distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required <a distinct refusal>. obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer <the obvious solution>. apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference <for no apparent reason>. plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration <her feelings about him are plain>. clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern <a clear explanation>.

2patent

noun pat·ent \ˈpa-tənt, British also ˈpā-\

: an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a certain period of time

Full Definition of PATENT

1
:  an official document conferring a right or privilege :  letters patent
2
a :  a writing securing for a term of years the exclusive right to make, use, or sell an invention
b :  the monopoly or right so granted
c :  a patented invention
4
:  an instrument making a conveyance of public lands; also :  the land so conveyed

First Known Use of PATENT

14th century

3patent

verb pat·ent \same as 2\

: to get a patent for (something)

Full Definition of PATENT

transitive verb
1
:  to obtain or grant a patent right to
2
:  to grant a privilege, right, or license to by patent
3
:  to obtain or secure by patent; especially :  to secure by letters patent exclusive right to make, use, or sell
pat·ent·abil·i·ty \ˌpa-tən-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē, British also ˌpā-\ noun
pat·ent·able \ˈpa-tən-tə-bəl, British also ˈpā-\ adjective

First Known Use of PATENT

1675
PATENT Defined for Kids

1patent

adjective pat·ent \for 1 ˈpa-tənt or ˈpā-, for 2 ˈpa-\

Definition of PATENT for Kids

1
:  obvious, evident <a patent lie>
2
:  relating to or concerned with patents <patent law>

2patent

noun pat·ent \ˈpa-tənt\

Definition of PATENT for Kids

:  a document that gives the inventor of something the right to be the only one to make or sell the invention for a certain number of years

3patent

verb pat·ent \ˈpa-tənt\
pat·ent·edpat·ent·ing

Definition of PATENT for Kids

:  to obtain the legal right to be the only one to make or sell an invention
Medical Dictionary

patent

adjective pa·tent \ˈpat-ənt, British usually ˈpāt-\

Medical Definition of PATENT

1
:  protected by a trademark or a trade name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by a patent :  proprietary <patent drugs>
2
\ˈpāt-\:  affording free passage :  being open and unobstructed <the nose patent with no pathological discharge—Journal of the American Medical Association>
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