patent

Adjective

• clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  • the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields
    
  • evident hostility
    
  • manifest disapproval
    
  • patent advantages
    
  • made his meaning plain
    
  • it is plain that he is no reactionary
    
  • in plain view
    

• (of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage
  • patent ductus arteriosus
    

Noun

• an official document granting a right or privilege

• a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention

Verb

• make open to sight or notice
  • His behavior has patented an embarrassing fact about him
    

• grant rights to; grant a patent for

• obtain a patent for
  • Should I patent this invention?
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  apparent , evident , manifest , plain , unmistakable , letters patent , patent of invention