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li‧cence S3 W2 British English ; license American English
1 an official document giving you permission to own or do something for a period of time [↪ permit]COLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS 
do something without a licence a licence to do something apply for a licence grant/issue a licence renew a licence lose your licence (=have your licence taken away) driving licence British English driver's license American English licence fee British English (=the money a licence costs) licence holder British English (=a person who has a licence)
document
[countable]COLLOCATIONS do something without a licence a licence to do something apply for a licence grant/issue a licence renew a licence lose your licence (=have your licence taken away) driving licence British English driver's license American English licence fee British English (=the money a licence costs) licence holder British English (=a person who has a licence)
2 an agreement with a company or organization giving permission to make, sell or use their product
agreement
[uncountable and countable] single-user/10-user/site licence (=permission for computer software to be used by a certain number of people or in a certain place only)
3 freedom to do or say what you think is best : 
Headteachers should be allowed greater licence in the exercise of their power.
freedom
[uncountable]Headteachers should be allowed greater licence in the exercise of their power.4 the way in which a painter or writer changes the facts of the real world to make their story, description, or picture of events more interesting or more beautiful
artistic/poetic licence
A5 the freedom or opportunity to behave in a way that is wrong or immoral
excuse
[uncountable and countable]6 an opportunity to make a lot of money without much work or effort - especially used to show disapproval
