licence

«licence» in Mova's school dictionary: an official paper or card that gives you permission to do… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (a licence, licences); (US spelling: license)

meaning for a pupil

1) A licence is an official paper or card that gives you permission to do or own something, such as drive a car, catch fish or sell food. tree →

2) Licence can also mean freedom to do or say what you like («poetic licence» means a writer may change facts or rules for effect). tree →

sense in the lessons

In everyday life adults need a driving licence to drive and a TV licence in the UK; shops may need a licence to sell certain things. Laws link licences to safety: only trained people can do some jobs. Phrases: «driving licence», «fishing licence», «licence plate» (US: license plate), «poetic licence».

examples

• Mum showed her driving licence to the police officer. tree →
• You need a licence to fish in this river. tree →
• In the UK, families pay for a TV licence. tree →
• Dad lost his licence for speeding. tree →
• The café has a licence to sell food on the beach. tree →
• The writer used poetic licence and made the castle taller. tree →
• My big brother just got his learner's licence. tree →
• The shop's licence is on the wall. tree →

note

British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand English: noun «licence», verb «license» (to give permission). American English uses «license» for both. Canada mostly uses «licence» for the noun. Remember: «c» for the noun, like «advice/advise» and «practice/practise».

In the corpora

• A speed camera photographs cars going over the limit, and the driver must pay a fine and may get points on their licence.
• Every car has a number plate, also called a licence plate, with letters and numbers.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «licence» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.