a permit from an authority to own or use something, do a particular thing, or carry on a trade (especially in alcoholic drink)
a gun licence
a television licence fee
freedom to behave as one wishes, especially in a way which results in excessive or unacceptable behaviour
the government was criticized for giving the army too much licence
grant a licence to
a pub has to be licensed by the local justices
he ought not to have been licensed to fly a plane