license

Multiple Entries:
  license    licence  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
license /ˈlʌɪsns/ (also licence)

▶verb grant a licence to.

■ authorize (something).

– derivatives
licensable adjective,
licenser noun,
licensing adjective,
licensor noun.

– origin ME: from licence; the spelling -se arose by analogy with pairs such as practice, practise.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
licence /ˈlʌɪsns/ (US license)

▶noun

• 1 a permit from an authority to own or use something, do a particular thing, or carry on a trade (especially in alcohol).

  ■ formal or official permission.

• 2 freedom to behave without restraint.

• 3 a writer's or artist's freedom to deviate from facts or accepted conventions.

– origin ME: via OFr. from L. licentia ‘freedom, licentiousness’ (in med. L. ‘authority, permission’), from licere ‘be lawful or permitted’.