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patent
/ˈpeɪtənt/
As a noun and verb, the word carries a heavy weight of bureaucracy, ownership, and commercial competition. It suggests a boundary line drawn around an idea, transforming a thought into a piece of property that can be traded, sold, or defended in court.
Countable when referring to the legal document itself (three patents). Uncountable when referring to the general system of intellectual property rights.
意味
A legal document granting an inventor exclusive rights to their invention for a set period.
"The company filed a patent for the new battery technology."
Easily recognizable; open to public view; not hidden.
"The flaws in the plan were patent to everyone in the room."
The act of securing legal protection for an invention.
"She patented her design for a sustainable water filter."