01 n. The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity; the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in some article, or of tradin…
pl.
Monopolies ((#))
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1.
The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity; the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in some article, or of trading in some market; sole command of the traffic in anything, however obtained; as, the proprietor of a patented article is given a monopoly of its sale for a limited time; chartered trading companies have sometimes had a monopoly of trade with remote regions; a combination of traders may get a monopoly of a particular product.“Raleigh held a monopoly of cards, Essex a monopoly of sweet wines.” — Macaulay.
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2.
Exclusive possession; as, a monopoly of land.“If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't.” — Shak.
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3.
The commodity or other material thing to which the monopoly relates; as, tobacco is a monopoly in France.[Colloq.]