2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Monopoly  \Mo*nop"o*ly\,  n.;  pl  {Monopolies}.  [L.  monopolium, 
  Gr  ?,  ?;  mo`nos  alone  +  ?  to  sell.] 
  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. 
 
  2.  Exclusive  possession;  as  a  monopoly  of  land. 
 
  If  I  had  a  monopoly  out  they  would  have  part  on  't. 
  --Shak. 
 
  3.  The  commodity  or  other  material  thing  to  which  the 
  monopoly  relates;  as  tobacco  is  a  monopoly  in  France. 
  [Colloq.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  monopoly 
  n  1:  (economics)  a  market  in  which  there  are  many  buyers  but  only 
  one  seller;  "a  monopoly  on  silver";  "when  you  have  a 
  monopoly  you  can  ask  any  price  you  like" 
  2:  exclusive  control  or  possession  of  something  "They  have  no 
  monopoly  on  intelligence" 
  3:  (trademark)  a  board  game  in  which  players  try  to  gain  a 
  monopoly  on  real  estate  as  pieces  advance  around  the  board 
  according  to  the  throw  of  a  die  [syn:  {Monopoly}] 

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