3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Public  \Pub"lic\,  n. 
  1.  The  general  body  of  mankind,  or  of  a  nation,  state,  or 
  community;  the  people,  indefinitely;  as  the  American 
  public;  also  a  particular  body  or  aggregation  of  people; 
  as  an  author's  public. 
 
  The  public  is  more  disposed  to  censure  than  to 
  praise.  --Addison. 
 
  2.  A  public  house;  an  inn.  [Scot.]  --Sir  W.  Scott. 
 
  {In  public},  openly;  before  an  audience  or  the  people  at 
  large  not  in  private  or  secrecy.  ``We  are  to  speak  in 
  public.''  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Public  \Pub"lic\,  a.  [L.  publicus,  poblicus  fr  populus  people: 
  cf  F.  public.  See  {People}.] 
  1.  Of  or  pertaining  to  the  people;  belonging  to  the  people; 
  relating  to  or  affecting,  a  nation,  state,  or  community; 
  --  opposed  to  {private};  as  the  public  treasury. 
 
  To  the  public  good  Private  respects  must  yield. 
  --Milton. 
 
  He  [Alexander  Hamilton]  touched  the  dead  corpse  of 
  the  public  credit,  and  it  sprung  upon  its  feet.  --D. 
  Webster. 
 
  2.  Open  to  the  knowledge  or  view  of  all  general;  common; 
  notorious;  as  public  report;  public  scandal. 
 
  Joseph,  .  .  .  not  willing  to  make  her  a  public 
  example,  was  minded  to  put  her  away  privily.  --Matt. 
  i.  19. 
 
  3.  Open  to  common  or  general  use  as  a  public  road;  a  public 
  house.  ``The  public  street.''  --Shak. 
 
  {Public  act}  or  {statute}  (Law),  an  act  or  statute  affecting 
  matters  of  public  concern.  Of  such  statutes  the  courts 
  take  judicial  notice. 
 
  {Public  credit}.  See  under  {Credit}. 
 
  {Public  funds}.  See  {Fund},  3. 
 
  {Public  house},  an  inn,  or  house  of  entertainment. 
 
  {Public  law}. 
  a  See  {International  law},  under  {International}. 
  b  A  public  act  or  statute. 
 
  {Public  nuisance}.  (Law)  See  under  {Nuisance}. 
 
  {Public  orator}.  (Eng.  Universities)  See  {Orator},  3. 
 
  {Public  stores},  military  and  naval  stores,  equipments,  etc 
 
 
  {Public  works},  all  fixed  works  built  by  civil  engineers  for 
  public  use  as  railways,  docks,  canals,  etc.;  but 
  strictly,  military  and  civil  engineering  works  constructed 
  at  the  public  cost. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  public 
  adj  1:  not  private;  open  to  or  concerning  the  people  as  a  whole; 
  "the  public  good";  "public  libraries";  "public  funds"; 
  "public  parks";  "a  public  scandal";  "public  gardens"; 
  "performers  and  members  of  royal  families  are  public 
  figures"  [ant:  {private}] 
  2:  affecting  the  people  or  community  as  a  whole;  "community 
  leaders";  "community  interests";  "the  public  welfare" 
  [syn:  {community(a)}] 
  n  1:  people  in  general  considered  as  a  whole;  "he  is  a  hero  in 
  the  eyes  of  the  public"  [syn:  {populace},  {world}] 
  2:  a  body  of  people  sharing  some  common  interest;  "the  reading 
  public" 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words