patent
noun uk/ˈpeɪ.tənt/ us/ˈpæt.ənt/
(LEGAL RIGHT)
[ C ]专利权
the official legal right to make or sell an invention for a particular number of years
In 1880 Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent on an apparatus for signalling and communicating called a Photophone. 亚历山大‧格雷厄姆‧贝尔发明了一个可用来发送和传输讯号，称为「光线电话」的装置，并于1880年获授了此装置的专利权。
The company took out/filed a patent on a genetically engineered tomato. 该公司取得／申请了一项转基因西红柿的专利权。
(LEATHER)
[ U ]（见patent leather）
→ patent leather
patent
verb [ T ] uk/ˈpeɪ.tənt/ us/ˈpæt.ənt/
申请专利
to get the official legal right to make or sell an invention
If you don't patent your invention, other people may make all the profit out of it. 如果你不为你的发明申请专利权，其他人就会从中渔利。
patent
adjective uk/ˈpeɪ.tənt/ /ˈpæt.ənt/ us/ˈpæt.ənt/ /ˈpeɪ.tənt/
(OBVIOUS)
[ before noun ] formal usuk/ˈpeɪ.tənt/显然的，显而易见的
very obvious
a patent lie 昭然若揭的谎言
a patent disregard of the law 对法律的公然漠视
"No," he replied, with patent distaste. “不，”他带着明显的厌恶回答道。
(LEGAL RIGHT)
[ before noun ] uk/ˈpeɪ.tənt/ us/ˈpæt.ənt/专利权
A patent invention is protected by law so that only particular people or companies have the right to make or sell it.
a patent screwdriver 获专利的螺丝刀