license
license — noun
1. formal permission from an official body that allows a person or business to do s
formal permission from an official body that allows a person or business to do something that would otherwise be illegal; also, the card, document, or tag that proves this permission has been granted.
Felipe had to show his driver's license before the bank would cash the check.
collocation: driver's license
The owner of the shop applied for a new business license from the city office.
collocation: business license / apply for a license
Without a valid fishing license, you cannot keep any fish you catch in this river.
Imani checked that her medical license was still valid before accepting the hospital job.
A software license usually tells you how many devices may run the program at once.
- permit
more general; can be temporary or for a single activity (parking permit vs. driver's license)
- certification
focuses on the proof of qualifications rather than permission from authority
- authorization
emphasizes the act of granting permission more than the physical document
- ban
a formal prohibition that removes permission
文法句型
a license to do something
a license for something
用法筆記
In British English, the noun is spelled licence and the verb is spelled license. In US English, both noun and verb are spelled license. The noun often appears with an article (a license, the license) and is frequently modified by the type of permission (driver's license, business license, liquor license).
常見錯誤
2. the freedom to set aside normal rules, standards, or facts in a particular situa
the freedom to set aside normal rules, standards, or facts in a particular situation — for example, changing details in a story for artistic effect, or allowing a child more room to behave freely than usual.
Amihan used poetic license to change the ending of the true story for her novel.
fixed phrase: poetic license
The director took artistic license by setting the film in 1990 instead of 1980.
fixed phrase: artistic license / took artistic license
Sana's parents gave her too much license as a child, so she rarely followed any rules at school.
Some critics felt the painter had taken too much license with the shape of the human figures.
Zayd argued that students need some license to explore ideas without fear of being wrong.
- restriction
a rule or limit that takes away freedom of action
文法句型
license to + noun
modifier + license
用法筆記
Often paired with a descriptive modifier such as poetic license, artistic license, or creative license. Used without a modifier, the word can carry a negative tone of excessive or careless freedom. Distinguish from sense 1 (OFFICIAL PERMISSION) where license refers to a concrete document or formal right.
常見錯誤
license — verb
1. to officially grant a person or company the right to carry out a particular acti
to officially grant a person or company the right to carry out a particular activity, own a specific item, or use certain equipment, usually after checking that they meet the necessary requirements.
The city licensed the new restaurant to serve food only after it passed the health inspection.
pattern: license + noun + to-infinitive
Ada is licensed to practice law in three different states across the country.
passive: be licensed to + verb
The government licenses only those clinics that meet strict safety standards each year.
Sumin's company was licensed to sell medical equipment throughout the region.
States normally license drivers after they pass both a written exam and a road test.
文法句型
be licensed to do something
license + noun + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Very common in the passive voice (is licensed, was licensed, are licensed). Specify what is permitted using be licensed to + infinitive (she is licensed to drive a taxi) or be licensed for + noun (this vehicle is licensed for commercial use). The subject is usually a government agency or official body that holds authority to grant permission.