licence
(US license), n
1 [C] official document showing that permission has been given to own, use or do sth 執照; 許可證
a driving licence 駕駛執照
a licence to practise as a doctor 醫生開業執照
This used to be a pub but the landlord has lost his licence, ie is no longer permitted to sell alcoholic drinks. 這 子原是酒店, 但店主已喪失營業執照(再不允許賣酒了).
2 [U] (fml 文) permission 準許; 許可
Why give these people licence to enter the place at will? 為什麼允許這些人隨意進入該地?
3 [U]
(a) irresponsible use of freedom, esp to behave in an offensive way 放縱; 放任; (尤指)放肆.
(b) freedom to rearrange or exaggerate words or images (文字或形象的)破格
artistic/poetic licence 藝術[詩]的破格.
4 (idm 習語) a ,licence to print `money (infml 口) scheme, etc that has been officially approved but is likely to be excessively costly, with little or no control over the money spent 無底洞開支(正式批準但無法控制開銷的計畫等).