PATENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does patent mean? 

• PATENT (noun)
  The noun PATENT has 2 senses:

1. a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention

2. an official document granting a right or privilege

  Familiarity information: PATENT used as a noun is rare.

• PATENT (adjective)
  The adjective PATENT has 2 senses:

1. (of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage

2. clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

  Familiarity information: PATENT used as an adjective is rare.

• PATENT (verb)
  The verb PATENT has 3 senses:

1. obtain a patent for

2. grant rights to; grant a patent for

3. make open to sight or notice

  Familiarity information: PATENT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PATENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

patent; patent of invention

Hypernyms ("patent" is a kind of...):

document; papers; written document (writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature))

Derivation:

patent (obtain a patent for)

patent (grant rights to; grant a patent for)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An official document granting a right or privilege

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

letters patent; patent

Hypernyms ("patent" is a kind of...):

instrument; legal document; legal instrument; official document ((law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

patent (grant rights to; grant a patent for)

• PATENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage

Context example:

patent ductus arteriosus

Similar:

unobstructed (free from impediment or obstruction or hindrance)

Derivation:

patency (the openness (lack of obstruction) of a bodily passage or duct)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

Synonyms:

apparent; evident; manifest; palpable; patent; plain; unmistakable

Context example:

a palpable lie

Similar:

obvious (easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind)

Derivation:

patency (the property of being easy to see and understand)

• PATENT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they patent    ... he / she / it patents   
Past simple: patented   
Past participle: patented   
-ing form: patenting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Obtain a patent for

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

Should I patent this invention?

Hypernyms (to "patent" is one way to...):

procure; secure (get by special effort)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

patent (a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention)

patentee (the inventor to whom a patent is issued)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Grant rights to; grant a patent for

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "patent" is one way to...):

register (record in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

patent (a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention)

patent (an official document granting a right or privilege)

patentee (the inventor to whom a patent is issued)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make open to sight or notice

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

His behavior has patented an embarrassing fact about him

Hypernyms (to "patent" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

patency (the property of being easy to see and understand)

 Context examples 

There was something tenacious about that lily-frail body of hers, a clutch on existence which one could not reconcile with its patent weakness.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Dr Richard Atkinson, Emeritus Professor at the University of Wisconsin, has already patented a vaccine for the virus.

(Scientists Find Virus Linked to Weight Gain, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It was patent that Wolf had had no experience with women.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The technique has proved so successful that Hersam and his team now hold two dozen pending or issued patents.

(Materials for the next generation of electronics and photovoltaics, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

That Mr. Ends resented this, was patent; and Martin saw the twitch of his arm as if to protect his trousers pocket.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I glanced down at the new patent leathers which I was wearing.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Most cases involve a patent urachus that allows for communication to the urinary bladder.

(Allantoic Cyst, NCI Thesaurus)

A bispecific antibody containing a patented Trigger antibody and a humanized antibody that targets TAG-72.

(Monoclonal Antibody MDX-220, NCI Thesaurus)

Complete closure of the normally patent lumen of the blood vessels which carry blood away from the heart.

(Arterial Occlusion, NCI Thesaurus)

A vial that has a patented delivery system.

(Patent Delivery System Vial, NCI Thesaurus)