PUBLIC


Meaning of PUBLIC in English

/ ˈpʌblɪk; NAmE / adjective , noun

■ adjective

OF ORDINARY PEOPLE

1.

[ only before noun ] connected with ordinary people in society in general :

The campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the issues.

Levels of waste from the factory may be a danger to public health.

Why would the closure of hospitals be in the public interest (= useful to ordinary people) ?

The government had to bow to public pressure.

FOR EVERYONE

2.

[ only before noun ] provided, especially by the government, for the use of people in general :

a public education system

a public library

OPP private

OF GOVERNMENT

3.

[ only before noun ] connected with the government and the services it provides :

public money / spending / funding / expenditure

He spent much of his career in public office (= working in the government) .

( BrE )

the public purse (= the money that the government can spend)

The rail industry is no longer in public ownership (= controlled by the government) .

OPP private

SEEN / HEARD BY PEOPLE

4.

known to people in general :

a public figure (= a person who is well known because they are often on the television, radio, etc.)

Details of the government report have not yet been made public .

She entered public life (= started a job in which she became known to the public) at the age of 25.

5.

open to people in general; intended to be seen or heard by people in general :

a public apology

The painting will be put on public display next week.

This may be the band's last public appearance together.

PLACE

6.

where there are a lot of people who can see and hear you :

Let's go somewhere a little less public.

OPP private

►  pub·lic·ly / -kli; NAmE / adverb :

a publicly owned company

He later publicly apologized for his comments.

This information is not publicly available.

IDIOMS

- go public

- in the public eye

—more at knowledge

■ noun

[ sing.+ sing./pl. v . ]

ORDINARY PEOPLE

1.

the public ordinary people in society in general :

The palace is now open to the public.

There have been many complaints from members of the public .

The public has / have a right to know what is contained in the report.

—see also the general public

GROUP OF PEOPLE

2.

a group of people who share a particular interest or who are involved in the same activity :

the theatre-going public

She knows how to keep her public (= for example, the people who buy her books) satisfied.

IDIOMS

- in public

—more at wash verb

••

WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English : from Old French , from Latin publicus , blend of poplicus of the people (from populus people) and pubes adult.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.