1. noun /ˈpeɪtənt,ˈpætənt,ˈpætənt,ˈpeɪtənt/
a) A declaration issued by a government agency declaring someone the inventor of a new invention and having the privilege of stopping others from making, using or selling the claimed invention; a letter patent.
b) A specific grant of ownership of a piece of property; a land patent.
2. verb /ˈpeɪtənt,ˈpætənt,ˈpætənt,ˈpeɪtənt/
To successfully register an invention with a government agency; to secure a letter patent.
3. adjective /ˈpeɪtənt,ˈpætənt,ˈpætənt,ˈpeɪtənt/
a) Open, unobstructed, expanded.
That is a patent ductus arteriosus.
b) Explicit and obvious. <!this is an example of the adverb: patently obvious
Wikipedia foundation.