patent /ˈpætənt/ CET6 TEM4 ( patenting, patented, patents )

• 1. 

  N-COUNT A patent is an official right to be the only person or company allowed to make or sell a new product for a certain period of time. 专利

  例：

  P&G applied for a patent on its cookies.

  宝洁公司为其饼干申请了专利。

  例：

  He held a number of patents for his many innovations.

  他为他的许多革新申请了几项专利。

• 2. 

  V-T If you patent something, you obtain a patent for it. 得到…专利

  例：

  He patented the idea that the atom could be split.

  他得到了原子可以分裂的这个见解的专利。

  例：

  The invention has been patented by the university.

  那项发明已经由那所大学获取了专利。

• 3. 

  ADJ You use patent to describe something, especially something bad, in order to indicate in an emphatic way that you think its nature or existence is clear and obvious. 显而易见的 [强调]

  例：

  This was patent nonsense.

  这显然是一派胡言。

• 4. 

  patently ADV 显而易见地

  例：

  He made his displeasure patently obvious.

  他清楚地表明了他的不悦。

• 5. 

  ADJ open or available for inspection (esp in the phrase letters patent) 公开的