(countable, uncountable) An official document granting an appointment, privilege, or right, or some property or title; letters patent.
(countable, specifically, uncountable) A grant of a monopoly over the manufacture, sale, and use of goods.
(countable, specifically, uncountable) 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.
(US, countable, historical, uncountable) A specific grant of ownership of a piece of real property; a land patent.
(broadly, countable, uncountable) A product in respect of which a patent (sense 1.2.2) has been obtained.
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of patent leather (“a varnished, high-gloss leather typically used for accessories and shoes”).
(countable, figuratively, uncountable) A licence or (formal) permission to do something.
(countable, figuratively, uncountable) A characteristic or quality that one possesses; in particular (hyperbolic) as if exclusively; a monopoly.
(countable, uncountable) The combination of seven bets on three selections, offering a return even if only one bet comes in.

(transitive) 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.
(US, historical, transitive) To obtain (over a piece of real property) a specific grant of ownership.
(figuratively, transitive) To be closely associated or identified with (something); to monopolize.

Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Conspicuous; open; unconcealed.
Explicit and obvious.
(archaic) Especially of a document conferring some privilege or right: open to public perusal or use.
(archaic) Appointed or conferred by letters patent.
Of a branch, leaf, etc.: outspread; also, spreading at right angles to the axis.
Protected by a legal patent.
(broadly, figuratively) To which someone has, or seems to have, a claim or an exclusive claim; also, inventive or particularly suited for.

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