| Noun | 1. | patent - a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention | |
| 2. | patent - an official document granting a right or privilegejurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" | |
| Verb | 1. | patent - obtain a patent for; "Should I patent this invention?"procure, secure - get by special effort; "He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed" | |
| 2. | patent - grant rights to; grant a patent forregister - record in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions | |
| 3. | patent - make open to sight or notice; "His behavior has patented an embarrassing fact about him"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" | |
| Adj. | 1. | patent - (of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage; "patent ductus arteriosus"unobstructed - free from impediment or obstruction or hindrance; "an unobstructed view" | |
| 2. | patent - clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or senses; "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"obvious - easily perceived or understood; "obvious errors" | |