Licence Driving ˈlaɪsns Lost Software Freedom Noun Bre

• a driving licence
• james lost his licence for six months (= had his licence taken away by the police as a punishment).
• a licence for the software
• is there a licence fee?

licence

1. an official document that shows that permission has been given to do, own or use something
• a driving licence
• James lost his licence for six months (= had his licence taken away by the police as a punishment).
• a licence for the software
• Is there a licence fee?
• You need a licence to fish in this river.
• a licence holder (= a person who has been given a licence)
2. freedom to do or say whatever you want, often something bad or unacceptable
• Lack of punishment seems to give youngsters licence to break the law.
3. freedom to behave in a way that is considered sexually immoral
4. the freedom of artists or writers to change facts in order to make a story, painting, etc. more interesting or beautiful
5. used to describe a business which makes a lot of money with little effort
6. made with the permission of a company or an organization

Extra Examples

• Applicants must hold a valid driving licence.
• He’s had his licence taken away.
• I got my driving licence when I was eighteen.
• She gained her private pilot’s licence.
• She lost her driving licence when she was caught drink-driving.
• The CD-ROM comes with a single-user licence.
• The bar was refused a music licence.
• The company has won the licence to run trains from the south coast to London.
• The government is currently granting no operating licences to foreign companies.
• The licence expires at the end of the year.
• The weapons were exported under a special export licence.
• They are Italian trains, but they will be built in Britain under licence.
• You can buy a TV licence at the post office.
• You have to have a licence to sell beer.
• a licence for software manufacture
• a licence from the Performing Rights Society
• Do you have a valid driving licence?
• He did not have a gun licence.
• His licence was revoked by the court.
• Most households in the UK are required to have a TV/television licence.
• She lost her licence for six months.
• The beer is brewed under licence in the UK.
• The premises did not have an entertainment licence.
• Who holds the licence for these premises?
• Your local authority should be able to issue you with a licence.
• a liquor licence
• a marriage licence
• an export licence

Word Origin

• late Middle English: via Old French from Latin licentia ‘freedom, sexually immoral behaviour’ (in medieval Latin ‘authority, permission’), from licere ‘be lawful or permitted’.