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patent

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A patent is the right from the federal government to produce and sell something for a certain number of years without anyone copying it. (noun)

An example of patent is a protection against copying the production method used to create M&Ms.

Patent means protected by a government issued right allowing someone to make and sell a product or service for a certain amount of years without anyone being allowed to copy it. (adjective)

An example of patent is a protection afforded to the makers of Converse All Star sneakers.

Patent means to obtain a right to the producing and selling of a product that also stops anyone from copying it. (verb)

An example of patent is to contact the United States Patent and Trademark Office to get such a right.

See patent in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

1. open to examination by the public: said of a document granting some right or rights, as to land, a franchise, an office, or, now esp., an invention: letters patent
2. granted or appointed by letters patent
open to all; generally accessible or available
obvious; plain; evident: a patent lie
open or unobstructed
1. protected by a patent; patented
2. of or having to do with patents or the granting of patents: patent law
produced or sold as a proprietary product
new, unusual, individual, etc.
also patented
Bot., Zool. spreading out or open; patulous

noun

an official document open to public examination and granting a certain right or privilege; letters patent; esp., a document granting the exclusive right to produce, sell, or get profit from an invention, process, etc. for a specific number of years
1. the right so granted
2. the thing protected by such a right; patented article or process
public land, or title to such land, granted to a person by letters patent
any exclusive right, title, or license

transitive verb

to grant a patent to or for
to secure exclusive right to produce, use, and sell (an invention or process) by a patent; get a patent for

Related Forms:

patentable adjective

See patent in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(pătˈnt)

noun

a. A grant made by a government that confers upon the creator of an invention the sole right to make, use, and sell that invention for a set period of time.
b. Letters patent.
c. An invention protected by such a grant.
a. A grant made by a government that confers on an individual fee-simple title to public lands.
b. The official document of such a grant.
c. The land so granted.
An exclusive right or title.

adjective

a. Protected or conferred by a patent or letters patent: a patent right.
b. Of, relating to, or dealing in patents: patent law.
also (pātˈnt) Obvious; plain. See Synonyms at apparent.
(pātˈnt) Biology
a. Not blocked; open.
b. Spreading open; expanded.
Of, relating to, or being a nonprescription drug or other medical preparation that is often protected by a trademark.
Of high quality. Used of flour.
also (pātˈnt) Archaic Open to general inspection. Used especially of documents.