Definition of patent

• a. - Open; expanded; evident; apparent; unconcealed; manifest; public; conspicuous.
• a. - Open to public perusal; -- said of a document conferring some right or privilege; as, letters patent. See Letters patent, under 3d Letter.
• a. - Appropriated or protected by letters patent; secured by official authority to the exclusive possession, control, and disposal of some person or party; patented; as, a patent right; patent medicines.
• a. - Spreading; forming a nearly right angle with the steam or branch; as, a patent leaf.
• a. - A letter patent, or letters patent; an official document, issued by a sovereign power, conferring a right or privilege on some person or party.
• a. - A writing securing to an invention.
• a. - A document making a grant and conveyance of public lands.
• a. - The right or privilege conferred by such a document; hence, figuratively, a right, privilege, or license of the nature of a patent.
• v. t. - To grant by patent; to make the subject of a patent; to secure or protect by patent; as, to patent an invention; to patent public lands.