patent

[ pat-nt or for 10, 12–15, peyt-; especially British peyt-nt ]

/ ˈpæt nt or for 10, 12–15, ˈpeɪt-; especially British ˈpeɪt nt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR patent ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.

an invention or process protected by this right.

an official document conferring such a right; letters patent.

the instrument by which the government of the United States conveys the legal fee-simple title to public land.

patent leather.

adjective pa·tent [peyt-nt] /ˈpeɪt nt/ (for 10, 12–15)

protected by a patent; patented: a patent cooling device.

pertaining to, concerned with, or dealing with patents, especially on inventions: a patent attorney; patent law.

conferred by a patent, as a right or privilege.

holding a patent, as a person.

readily open to notice or observation; evident; obvious: a patent breach of good manners.

made of patent leather: patent shoes.

lying open; not enclosed or shut in: a patent field.

Chiefly Botany. expanded or spreading.

open, as a doorway or a passage.

Phonetics. open, in various degrees, to the passage of the breath stream.

verb (used with object)

to take out a patent on; obtain the exclusive rights to (an invention, process, etc.) by a patent.

to originate and establish as one's own.

Metallurgy. to heat and quench (wire) so as to prepare for cold-drawing.

to grant (public land) by a patent.

Origin of patent

1250–1300; (adj.) Middle English < Latin patent- (stem of patēns) open, orig. present participle of patēre to stand wide open; (noun) Middle English, short for letters patent, translation of Medieval Latin litterae patentēs open letters

SYNONYMS FOR patent

10 clear, palpable, conspicuous, unconcealed.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR patent ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR patent

10 dim, obscure, hidden.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR patent ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for patent

10. See apparent.

OTHER WORDS FROM patent

pat·ent·a·ble, adjective pat·ent·a·bil·i·ty, noun pat·ent·a·bly, adverb pa·tent·ly, adverb

non·pat·ent·a·bil·i·ty, noun non·pat·ent·a·ble, adjective non·pat·ent·ed, adjective non·pat·ent·ly, adverb pre·pat·ent, noun, verb (used with object) un·pat·ent, adjective un·pat·ent·a·bil·i·ty, noun un·pat·ent·a·ble, adjective un·pat·ent·ed, adjective

Words nearby patent

patellectomy, patelliform, paten, patency, patenier, patent, patent ambiguity, patent cliff, patent ductus arteriosus, patent fastener, patent flour

British Dictionary definitions for prepatent

patent

/ (ˈpætənt, ˈpeɪtənt) /

noun

a government grant to an inventor assuring him the sole right to make, use, and sell his invention for a limited period
a document conveying such a grant

an invention, privilege, etc, protected by a patent

an official document granting a right
any right granted by such a document

(in the US)

a grant by the government of title to public lands
the instrument by which such title is granted
the land so granted

a sign that one possesses a certain quality

adjective

open or available for inspection (esp in the phrases letters patent, patent writ)

(ˈpeɪtənt) obvious their scorn was patent to everyone

concerning protection, appointment, etc, of or by a patent or patents

proprietary

(esp of a bodily passage or duct) being open or unobstructed

biology spreading out widely patent branches

(of plate glass) ground and polished on both sides

verb (tr)

to obtain a patent for

(in the US) to grant (public land or mineral rights) by a patent

metallurgy to heat (a metal) above a transformation temperature and cool it at a rate that allows cold working

Derived forms of patent

patentable, adjective patentability, noun

Word Origin for patent

C14: via Old French from Latin patēre to lie open; n use, short for letters patent, from Medieval Latin litterae patentes letters lying open (to public inspection)

usage for patent

The pronunciation ( ˈpætənt) is heard in letters patent and Patent Office and is the usual US pronunciation for all senses. In Britain ( ˈpætənt) is sometimes heard for senses 1, 2 and 3, but ( ˈpeɪtənt) is commoner and is regularly used in collocations like patent leather

Medical definitions for prepatent

patent

[ păt′nt ]

n.

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.

An invention protected by such a grant.

adj.

Of, relating to, or being a nonprescription drug or other medical preparation that is often protected by a trademark.

Not blocked; open.

Spreading open; expanded.

v.

To obtain a patent on or for something, such as an invention.

To invent, originate, or be the proprietor of an idea.

To grant a patent to someone or for something.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

patent

noun

adjective pa·tent [peyt-nt] /ˈpeɪt nt/ (for 10, 12–15)

verb (used with object)

Origin of patent

SYNONYMS FOR patent

ANTONYMS FOR patent

synonym study for patent

OTHER WORDS FROM patent

Words nearby patent

British Dictionary definitions for prepatent

noun

adjective

verb (tr)

Derived forms of patent

Word Origin for patent

usage for patent

Medical definitions for prepatent

n.

adj.

v.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

patent

noun

adjective pa·tent [peyt-nt] /ˈpeɪt nt/ (for 10, 12–15)

verb (used with object)

Origin of patent

SYNONYMS FOR patent

ANTONYMS FOR patent

synonym study for patent

OTHER WORDS FROM patent

Words nearby patent

Words related to prepatent

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for prepatent

noun

adjective

verb (tr)

Derived forms of patent

Word Origin for patent

usage for patent

Medical definitions for prepatent

n.

adj.

v.

British Dictionary definitions for prepatent