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I UK [ˈpʌblɪk] / US adjective [usually before noun]
1) available for people in general to use

public transport

a public library

the city's attractive public spaces

a) involving a lot of people, or involving people in general

There has been a public outcry about her imprisonment.

The scheme has a lot of public support.

a public nuisance/hazard

b) used about something that anyone is allowed to watch, listen to, or take part in

a public meeting/inquiry/hearing

2) owned by the government, not by a private company

The damage was restored using public money.

public organizations

3) relating to the part of your life that people in general know about, for example your work, rather than your life at home

She keeps her public and private lives very separate.

a) used about things that most people know about because they are not private or secret

a very public display of unity

make something public (= tell everyone about it):

the decision to make the results public

b) used about places and situations where other people might see or hear you

Can we go somewhere a little less public?

•

in/out of the public eye — well known or not well known to people in general

Her job keeps her in the public eye.

They insist on keeping their children out of the public eye.


II UK [ˈpʌblɪk] / US noun
the public
a) people in general: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

The house was first opened to the public in the 1950s.

The public wants tougher sentences for terrorists.

The regulations should be written in plain English that the public understands.

a member of the public:

The police should be trained to deal politely with members of the public.

the general public:

Misconceptions about mental illness are common among the general public.

b) people of a particular type: can be followed by a singular or plural verb
the British/American etc public:

It is clear that the attack did not have the support of the American public.

the travelling/sporting/book-buying etc public:

Privatizing the railways was not in the best interests of the travelling public.

•

English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • public — public, ique [ pyblik ] adj. et n. m. • 1239; lat. publicus I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ Qui concerne le peuple pris dans son ensemble; qui appartient à la collectivité sociale, politique et en émane; qui appartient à l État ou à une personne administrative. La… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • public — pub·lic 1 adj 1 a: exposed to general view public indecency b: known or recognized by many or most people 2 a: of, relating to, or affecting all of the people or the whole area of a nation or state public statutes b: of or relating to a go …   Law dictionary

  • public — public, ique (pu blik, bli k ) adj. 1°   Qui appartient à tout un peuple, qui concerne tout un peuple. •   Le péril dont Rodrigue a su nous retirer, Et le salut public que vous rendent ses armes, CORN. Cid, IV, 2. •   Le bien public, CORN. Nicom …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Public — is of or pertaining to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; opposed to private; as, the public treasury, a road or lake. Public is also defined as the people of a nation not affiliated with the government of that… …   Wikipedia

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • public — PÚBLIC, Ă, publici, ce, s.n. sg., adj. 1. s.n. sg. Colectivitate mare de oameni; mulţime, lume; spec. totalitatea persoanelor care asistă la un spectacol, la o conferinţă etc. ♢ loc. adj. şi adv. În public = (care are loc) în faţa unui anumit… …   Dicționar Român

  • public — PUBLIC. adj. Commun, qui appartient à tout un peuple, qui concerne tout un peuple. L interest public. l authorité publique. l utilité publique. le thresor public. les revenus publics. il est de l avantage public que cela soit. il est du bien… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Public.Ru — – крупнейшая интернет каталог русскоязычных СМИ. С 2000 года Public.Ru развивает собственную базу данных материалов СМИ. Сегодня в архивах доступно более 20 млн. документов из более 3000 источников – газет, журналов, информационных агентств,… …   Википедия

  • public — [pub′lik] adj. [ME < L publicus: altered (prob. infl. by pubes, adult) < poplicus, contr. of populicus, public < populus, the PEOPLE] 1. of, belonging to, or concerning the people as a whole; of or by the community at large [the public… …   English World dictionary

  • public — ► ADJECTIVE 1) of, concerning, or available to the people as a whole. 2) of or involved in the affairs of the community, especially in government or entertainment. 3) done, perceived, or existing in open view. 4) of or provided by the state… …   English terms dictionary

  • 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. [1913 Webster] The public is more… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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