(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
Note: in AM, use 'license'
1.
A ~ is an official document which gives you permission to do, use, or own something.
Payne lost his driving ~ a year ago for drink-driving...
The painting was returned to Spain on a temporary import ~...
It gained a ~ to operate as a bank from the Bank of England in 1981.
N-COUNT
2.
If you say that something gives someone ~ or a ~ to act in a particular way, you mean that it gives them an excuse to behave in an irresponsible or excessive way.
‘Dropping the charges has given racists a ~ to kill,’ said Jim’s aunt.
N-UNCOUNT: also a N, N to-inf disapproval
3.
see also poetic ~
4.
If someone does something under ~, they do it by special permission from a government or other authority.
...a company which made the Mig-21 jet fighter under ~ from Russia.
PHRASE: PHR after v