First Known Use: 14th century
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>
6
archaic : accessible, exposed
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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
Related to PATENT
- Synonyms
- apparent, bald, bald-faced, barefaced, bright-line, broad, clear-cut, crystal clear, decided, distinct, evident, lucid, luculent, luminous, manifest, nonambiguous, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, clear, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, ringing, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unambivalent, unequivocal, unmistakable
- Antonyms
- ambiguous, clouded, cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, indistinct, mysterious, nonobvious, obfuscated, obscure, unapparent, unclarified, unclear, unclouded
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
5
See patent defined for English-language learners
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
See patent defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PATENT
1675
PATENTABILITY Defined for Kids
1patent
adjective pat·ent \for 1 ˈpa-tənt or ˈpā-, for 2 ˈpa-\
Definition of PATENT for Kids
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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