noun , adjective , verb
■ noun
/ ˈpætnt; NAmE ; BrE also ˈpeɪtnt/ [ C , U ] an official right to be the only person to make, use or sell a product or an invention; a document that proves this :
to apply for / obtain a patent on an invention
The device was protected by patent .
■ adjective /ˈpeɪtnt; NAmE also ˈpætnt/ [ only before noun ]
1.
connected with a patent :
patent applications / laws
the US Patent Office
2.
( of a product ) made or sold by a particular company :
patent medicines
3.
( formal ) used to emphasize that sth bad is very clear and obvious
SYN blatant :
It was a patent lie.
■ verb
/ˈpætnt; BrE also ˈpeɪtnt/ [ vn ] to obtain a patent for an invention or a process
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , from Latin patent- lying open, from the verb patere . The noun sense is from letters patent .