Public
Public , adjective
[Latin publicus, poblicus, from populus people: compare French 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.
He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet.
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.
3.
Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house.
The public street.
Collocations (9)
public act or public 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 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.
Public , noun
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.
2.
A public house; an inn. [Scottish] — Sir W. Scott
Collocations (1)
In public , openly; before an audience or the people at large; not in private or secrecy. We are to speak in public.