licence

/'laisəns/

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Word: Licence (British English) / License (American English)

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Definition:

1. Noun: A licence is a legal document that gives someone official permission to do something. For example, you might need a licence to drive a car or to operate certain types of businesses.

2. Noun (figurative): It can also refer to the freedom to act in a way that may not follow normal rules or standards. For example, someone might have the "licence" to express their opinions freely, even if those opinions are controversial.

3. Verb: To license (or licence) means to officially give permission to someone to do something. For example, a government might license a restaurant to serve food.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "licence" when referring to the official document that permits an action.
• Use "license" in American English for both the noun and verb forms.
• In casual contexts, you might use the figurative meaning to describe behavior that is seen as overly free or unrestricted.

Examples:

• Noun: "She has a driving licence, so she can legally drive a car."
• Noun (figurative): "The artist took creative licence when painting the landscape, adding colors that were not realistic."
• Verb: "The state will license new businesses after they meet all the requirements."

Advanced Usage:

• In legal or academic contexts, "licence" can be discussed in terms of the implications of having too much freedom, leading to chaos or disorder.
• In creative fields, "artistic licence" refers to the freedom artists have to alter facts or reality for the sake of their work.

Word Variants:

• License (American English) - same meaning, used as both a noun and a verb.
• Licencing (British English) - the act of granting a licence.

Different Meanings:

• Creative Licence: Freedom taken by an artist or writer to deviate from factual accuracy for effect or artistic expression.
• Business Licence: A specific type of licence that allows an individual or company to operate legally within a certain industry or location.

Synonyms:

• Permit
• Authorization
• Certification
• Allowance (in the context of freedom)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Take liberties: To act in a way that is not strictly within the rules, similar to having "licence".
• With (complete) licence: Meaning to act without restraint or limit, often used to describe behaviors or actions that may be seen as excessive.

Academic

Noun

1. a legal document giving official permission to do something
2. freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech)
3. excessive freedom; lack of due restraint
   • when liberty becomes license dictatorship is near- Will Durant
   • the intolerable license with which the newspapers break...the rules of decorum- Edmund Burke

Verb

1. authorize officially
   • I am licensed to practice law in this state

Synonyms

• license
• permit
• certify