1. (

• patent ,
• patent_of_invention

) a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention ;

2. (

• patent ,
• letters_patent

) an official document granting a right or privilege ;

1. (

• patent

) obtain a patent for; "Should I patent this invention?" ;

2. (

• patent

) grant rights to; grant a patent for ;

3. (

• patent

) make open to sight or notice; "His behavior has patented an embarrassing fact about him" ;

1. (

• patent

) (of a bodily tube or passageway) open; affording free passage; "patent ductus arteriosus" ;

2. (

• apparent ,
• evident ,
• manifest ,
• palpable ,
• patent ,
• plain ,
• unmistakable

) clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment; "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"; "a palpable lie" ;