adj
Meaning 1
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overt
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
patent
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪtənt/
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpætənt/
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Received-Pronunciation: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Canada, General-American: pătʹənt
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Canada, General-American: pātʹənt
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Canada, General-American: /ˈpætənt/
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Canada, General-American: [ˈphæ̝ʔn̩t̚]
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Canada, General-American: /ˈpeɪtənt/
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Canada, General-American: [ˈphe̞ɪʔn̩t̚]
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New-Jersey: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Australian: /ˈpæɪtənt/
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Australian: /ˈpætənt/
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rhymes with -eɪtənt
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rhymes with -ætənt
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CMU ARPABET: P AE1 T AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Of flour: fine, and consisting mostly of the inner part of the endosperm of the grain from which it is milled.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: baking, cooking, food, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overt
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 3
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Open, unobstructed; specifically, especially of the ductus arteriosus or foramen ovale in the heart, having not closed as would have happened in normal development.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: medicine, sciences
Examples
- She has a patent ductus arteriosus that will require surgery to close.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overt
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 4
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Of an infection: in the phase when the organism causing it can be detected by clinical tests.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, medicine, natural-sciences, pathology, sciences, veterinary, zoology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overt
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 5
Explicit and obvious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Those claims are patent nonsense.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: express, monosemous, unambiguous, clear, direct, explicit, monosemic, patent, plain, specific, unequivocal, univocal, apparent, arrant, undoubted, glaring, bait, blatant, clear as a bell, clear as day, clear cut, conspicuous, crystal clear, cut and dried, decided, elucidate, evident, eyely, intuitive, manifest, notable, noticeable, obvious, open-and-shut, ostensible, palpable, plain as a haystack, plain as a pikestaff, plain as day, plain as Dunstable highway, plain as porridge, plain as print, plain as Salisbury, plain as the nose on one's face, prima facie, res ipsa loquitur, splendent, straightforward, undissembled
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 6
Especially of a document conferring some privilege or right: open to public perusal or use.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
Examples
- letters patent
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 7
Appointed or conferred by letters patent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 8
Of a branch, leaf, etc.: outspread; also, spreading at right angles to the axis.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 9
Protected by a legal patent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
Examples
- a patent right patent medicines
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: patented
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 10
To which someone has, or seems to have, a claim or an exclusive claim; also, inventive or particularly suited for.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 11
An official document granting an appointment, privilege, or right, or some property or title; letters patent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 12
A grant of a monopoly over the manufacture, sale, and use of goods.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, specifically, uncountable
Qualifier: originally
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 13
A declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, specifically, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 14
A specific grant of ownership of a piece of real property; a land patent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, countable, historical, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 15
A product in respect of which a patent (sense 1.2.2) has been obtained.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 16
Ellipsis of patent leather (“a varnished, high-gloss leather typically used for accessories and shoes”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 17
A licence or (formal) permission to do something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 18
A characteristic or quality that one possesses; in particular (hyperbolic) as if exclusively; a monopoly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 19
The combination of seven bets on three selections, offering a return even if only one bet comes in.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: gambling, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 20
To (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 21
To obtain (over a piece of real property) a specific grant of ownership.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, historical, transitive
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 22
To be closely associated or identified with (something); to monopolize.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 23
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields
- evident hostility
- manifest disapproval
- patent advantages
- made his meaning plain
- it is plain that he is no reactionary
- in plain view
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: apparent, evident, manifest, plain, unmistakable
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 24
(of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- patent ductus arteriosus
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 25
a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: patent of invention
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: document, written document, papers
noun
Meaning 26
an official document granting a right or privilege
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: letters patent
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument
verb
Meaning 27
make open to sight or notice
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- His behavior has patented an embarrassing fact about him
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change, alter, modify
verb
Meaning 28
obtain a patent for
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Should I patent this invention?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: procure, secure
verb
Meaning 29
grant rights to; grant a patent for
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: register
History
Etymology
From Middle English patent, patente (“wide open; clear, unobstructed; unlimited; of a document: available for public inspection”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman and Middle French patent (modern French patent), and directly from their etymon Latin patēns (“open; accessible, passable; evident, manifest; exposed, vulnerable”), the present active participle of pateō (“to be open; to be accessible, attainable; to be exposed, vulnerable; of frontiers or land: to extent, increase”), from Proto-Indo-European *peth2- (“to spread out; to fly”).
The noun is derived from Middle English patent (“document granting an office, property, right, title, etc.; document granting permission, licence; papal indulgence, pardon”) [and other forms], which is either: * a clipping of lettre patent, lettres patente, lettres patentes [and other forms]; or * directly from Anglo-Norman and Middle French patente (modern French patent), a clipping of Anglo-Norman lettres patentes, Middle French lettres patentes, lettre patente, and Old French patentes lettres (“document granting an office, privilege, right, etc., or making a decree”) (compare Late Latin patēns, littera patēns, litterae patentēs). For the derivation of Anglo-Norman and Middle French patente (adjective) in lettre patente, see etymology 2 below. The verb is derived from the noun.
Across languages
Translations
98 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: явен (javen) — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Bulgarian: очевиден (očeviden) — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Catalan: patent — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Finnish: suoranainen — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Finnish: ilmeinen — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Irish: paiteanta — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Japanese: 明らかな (akirakana) — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Occitan: patent — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Occitan: clar — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Occitan: evident — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Persian: عیان ('ayân) — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Polish: oczywisty — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Portuguese: patente — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Russian: очеви́дный (očevídnyj) — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Russian: я́вный (jávnyj) — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Spanish: patente — explicit and obvious — see also explicit, obvious
- Finnish: avoin — (medicine) open, unobstructed
- Italian: pervio — (medicine) open, unobstructed
- Finnish: patentoitu — protected by a legal patent
- Māori: mana waihanga — grant of a monopoly over the manufacture, sale, and use of goods
- Arabic: بَرَاءَة اِخْتِرَاع — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Armenian: արտոնագիր (artonagir) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Bulgarian: патент (patent) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Burmese: မူပိုင် (mupuing) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Burmese: မူပိုင်ခွင့် (mupuinghkwang.) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Catalan: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Chinese Mandarin: 專利 /专利 (zhuānlì) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Czech: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Danish: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Dutch: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Dutch: octrooi — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Finnish: patentti — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- French: brevet — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Georgian: პატენტი (ṗaṭenṭi) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- German: Patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Greek: πατέντα (paténta) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Greek: ευρεσιτεχνία (evresitechnía) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Hindi: पेटेंट (peṭeṇṭ) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Hindi: पेटेण्ट (peṭeṇṭ) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Hindi: अनन्याधिकार (ananyādhikār) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Hindi: पेटेन्ट (peṭenṭ) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Hungarian: szabadalom — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Indonesian: paten — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Indonesian: oktroi — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Italian: brevetto — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Japanese: 特許 (tokkyo) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Japanese: 専売特許 (senbai tokkyo) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Kazakh: иеқұжат (ieqūjat) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Khmer: ប៉ាតង (paatɑɑng) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Korean: 특허 (teukheo) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Korean: 특허권 (teukheogwon) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Lao: ປະຕັງ — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Luxembourgish: Patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Luxembourgish: Brevet — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Māori: manatitonga — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Mongolian: патент (patent) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Mongolian: тусгай ашиг (tusgaj ašig) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Mongolian: ᠫᠠᠲ᠋ᠧᠨ᠍ᠲ (patēnt) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Mongolian: ᠲᠤᠰᠬᠠᠶ ᠠᠰᠢᠭ (tusqay asiɣ) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Occitan: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Polish: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Portuguese: patente — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Russian: пате́нт (patént) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Serbo-Croatian: па̀тент — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Serbo-Croatian: pàtent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Spanish: patente — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Swedish: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Tagalog: karapatang-tuklas — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Thai: สิทธิบัตร (sìt-tí-bàt) — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Turkish: buluş belgesi — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Turkish: patent — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Vietnamese: bằng độc quyền sáng chế — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Vietnamese: bằng sáng chế — declaration issued by a government agency that the inventor of a new invention has the sole privilege of making, selling, or using the claimed invention for a specified period
- Finnish: maaoikeus — specific grant of ownership of a piece of property
- Hindi: पेटेंट (peṭẽṭ) — specific grant of ownership of a piece of property
- Japanese: 権利証 (kenri shō) — specific grant of ownership of a piece of property
- Finnish: patentoitu tuote — product in respect of which a patent has been obtained
- Finnish: patentti — characteristic or quality that one possesses; in particular as if exclusively — see also monopoly
- Finnish: monopoli — characteristic or quality that one possesses; in particular as if exclusively — see also monopoly
- Bulgarian: патентовам (patentovam) — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Catalan: patentar — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Dutch: patenteren — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Finnish: patentoida — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- French: breveter — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- French: faire breveter — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- German: patentieren — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- German: patentieren lassen — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Hindi: पेटेंट करना (peṭẽṭ karnā) — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Hungarian: szabadalmaztat — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Japanese: 特許取得 (tokkyo shutoku) — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Occitan: patentar — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Polish: patentować — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Polish: opatentować — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Portuguese: patentear — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Russian: брать пате́нт (bratʹ patént) — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Russian: патентова́ть (patentovátʹ) — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Spanish: patentar — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
- Swedish: patentera — to (successfully) register (a new invention) with a government agency to obtain the sole privilege of its manufacture, sale, and use for a specified period
Real reading context