license

An official document that allows you to do a particular activity.

• My license expires next month.
• She applied for a fishing license.
• Do you have a license to run this business?

How to use it: license to do something (You need a license to sell alcohol.)

Similar words: permit

Common phrases: driver’s license, fishing license, business license, valid license

The legal rules that say how someone may use a product, especially a computer program.

• Read the software license carefully.
• This license allows you to share the code.
• Their new license limits the number of users.

Common phrases: software license, license agreement, open source license

To officially allow a person or organization to do something.

• The council licenses local taxis.
• He is licensed to practise law.
• Only licensed companies may provide this service.

How to use it: license someone to do something (The state licensed her to practise medicine.)

Similar words: authorize, permit

Common phrases: license someone, license a business

To officially allow someone to use something, usually through a written agreement.

• They licensed the software to schools.
• The photographer licenses her pictures to publishers.
• We need to license the music before using it.

How to use it: license something to someone (The artist licensed the image to a magazine.); license something under something (They licensed the code under an open source agreement.)

Similar words: authorize, permit

Common phrases: license something, license something to someone, license software

To allow a word or structure to appear according to the rules of grammar.

• This verb licenses a clause.
• Some constructions license a missing subject.
• Which nouns license this type of complement?

Similar words: permit, allow

Common phrases: license a complement, license a clause, license something