patent
/ˈpætnt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpætnt/ (ame, ipa) · /senses 1–3 are ˈpa-tᵊnt chiefly British ˈpā-; sense 4 ˈpā-; sense 5 ˈpā-, ˈpa-; senses 6–7 ˈpa-, ˈpā- British usually/ (ame, mw) · /ˈpeɪ.tənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpæt.ənt/ (ame, ipa)
patent — 名詞
- patentsingular
- patentsplural
1. a legal protection for a set number of years that gives one inventor or company
專利權
發明在一定年限內的專有權
a legal protection for a set number of years that gives one inventor or company sole control over how an invention is produced, used, and marketed; also the paper proving that protection.
After five years of tests, the team finally received a patent.
經過五年的測試後，團隊終於拿到專利權。
common verbs: receive / apply for / hold a patent
Without a patent, smaller firms could copy the new battery design.
如果沒有專利權，小公司就可能複製這款新電池設計。
Dr. Lin sold the patent to a medical company in Osaka.
Dr. Lin 把這項專利權賣給大阪的一家醫療公司。
The startup filed a patent application for its low-cost water filter.
這家新創為自家的低成本濾水器提出了專利申請。
Nexa Medical's patent runs for twenty years from its 2024 filing date.
Nexa Medical 的專利權自 2024 年申請日起可維持二十年。
- exclusive right
a broad legal phrase for sole control; less specific than patent
- patent right
formal legal wording for the right created by a patent
- monopoly
used in legal or economic discussion to stress sole control, not the document
- public domain
used for material or ideas that anyone may use freely
文法句型
have a patent on + [invention]
apply for a patent
patent for + [product/process]
用法筆記
Often appears with verbs such as 'apply for', 'grant', 'hold', and 'sell'. In business and legal English, 'patent' may mean either the right itself or the paper that proves it.
常見錯誤
2. a type of leather with a hard, shiny surface, often used for formal shoes, bags,
漆皮
表面光亮堅硬的皮革
a type of leather with a hard, shiny surface, often used for formal shoes, bags, and belts.
The dance shoes used black patent with a soft cloth lining.
這雙舞鞋用了黑色漆皮，內裡是柔軟的布料。
fashion material: black patent
Lina wiped the patent leather on her wedding heels before packing them away.
Lina 把婚鞋上的漆皮擦乾淨後，才把鞋收起來。
The shop window showed red patent bags beside plain brown boots.
櫥窗裡擺著紅色漆皮包，旁邊是普通的棕色靴子。
Many school shoes mix patent with normal leather for extra shine.
許多學生鞋會把漆皮和一般皮革混用，增加光澤。
- patent leather
the full and more usual name of the material
- glossy leather
a descriptive phrase, not the exact material name
文法句型
made of patent
patent with + [other material]
用法筆記
Usually used in the fixed phrase 'patent leather'. In fashion writing, 'patent' by itself can name the material when the item is already clear from context.
常見錯誤
patent — 動詞
- patentpresent simple I / you / we / they
- patents3rd person singular
- patenting-ing form
- patentedpast simple
1. to obtain legal protection for an invention by officially registering it so that
取得專利
為發明取得法律保護
to obtain legal protection for an invention by officially registering it so that others cannot copy or sell it without permission.
The company patented the toy after children loved the first model.
孩子們喜歡第一個模型後，公司就替那個玩具取得專利。
patent + [product]
Maya hopes to patent her water-saving shower head next year.
Maya 希望明年替她的省水蓮蓬頭申請專利。
Several labs raced to patent the same cancer test.
好幾間實驗室都趕著替同一種癌症檢測申請專利。
Ken patented the folding bike frame before showing it abroad.
Ken 在到國外展示前，就先替可折疊腳踏車車架取得專利。
The inventors patented a safer ladder for small apartments.
發明者替適合小公寓的更安全梯子取得了專利。
- register
stresses the formal filing step more than the legal result
- protect
much broader; does not always mean through patent law
- secure rights to
phrase that emphasizes gaining legal control
- release
to make something available without keeping exclusive legal control
文法句型
patent + [invention/design/process/device]
用法筆記
The object is usually an invention, design, process, device, or method. The subject is often an inventor, research team, or company rather than the invention itself.
常見錯誤
patent — 形容詞
- patentpositive
- more patentcomparative
- most patentsuperlative
1. so easy to notice or understand that it cannot reasonably be missed.
明顯的
清楚到無法忽視
so easy to notice or understand that it cannot reasonably be missed.
The bill contained a patent error in the final total.
這張帳單的最後總額裡有一個明顯的錯誤。
formal collocation: patent error / patent mistake
There was patent fear on the boy's face during the storm.
暴風雨時，那男孩臉上有明顯的害怕神情。
Her patent dislike of the meal upset the family cook.
她對那頓飯明顯的反感讓家裡的廚師很難過。
The report showed a patent lack of care in the factory.
這份報告顯示那家工廠在作業上明顯不夠謹慎。
The witness told a patent lie about where he spent Friday.
那名證人明顯說了謊，謊稱自己週五人在別的地方。
文法句型
patent + noun
用法筆記
Formal and usually placed before a noun. In everyday speech and writing, 'obvious' or 'clear' is much more common.
常見錯誤
2. describing an invention or product whose legal protection keeps other people or
專利的
受專利法保護的
describing an invention or product whose legal protection keeps other people or companies from copying it for production or sale.
Only one lab can sell the patent drug in Japan.
只有一家實驗室能在日本販售這種專利藥品。
before noun in legal or business writing
Investors were excited by the firm's patent process for clean steel.
投資人對這家公司用來製造潔淨鋼材的專利製程很興奮。
The court protected the patent design from cheap copies overseas.
法院保護那個專利設計，不讓廉價仿品流入海外市場。
GreenRiver's patent invention cut farm water use by half.
GreenRiver 的專利發明讓農場用水減半。
The deal covered a patent machine used in small hospitals.
這筆交易涵蓋一種用在小型醫院的專利機器。
- unpatented
not protected by a patent
文法句型
patent + invention/process/design/product
用法筆記
Mainly found before a noun in legal or business writing. After 'be', English usually prefers 'patented' rather than 'patent'.