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Noun: patent  pa-t(u)nt [N. Amer], pey-t(u)nt or pa-t(u)nt [Brit]
  1. A document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention
    - patent of invention
     
  2. (law) an official document granting a right or privilege
    - letters patent
Verb: patent  pa-t(u)nt [N. Amer], pey-t(u)nt or pa-t(u)nt [Brit]
  1. Obtain a patent for
    "Should I patent this invention?"
     
  2. Grant rights to; grant a patent for
     
  3. Make open to sight or notice
    "His behaviour has patented an embarrassing fact about him"
Adjective: patent  pa-t(u)nt [N. Amer], pey-t(u)nt or pa-t(u)nt [Brit]
  1. (of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage
    "patent ductus arteriosus"
     
  2. Clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
    "patent advantages";
    - apparent, evident, manifest, palpable, plain, unmistakable, unmistakeable

Derived forms: patenting, patented, patents

See also: obvious, unobstructed

Type of: alter, change, document, instrument, legal document, legal instrument, modify, official document, papers, procure, register, secure, written document

Encyclopedia: Patent