\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.]