patent
adj : clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or senses; "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" [syn: {apparent}, {evident}, {manifest}, {plain}]
n 1: a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention
2: an official document granting a right or privilege [syn: {letters
patent}]
v 1: obtain a patent for; "Should I patent this invention?"
2: grant rights to; grant a patent for