n.
Pronunciation: ' p ə -blik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English publique, from Anglo-French, from Latin publicus; akin to Latin populus people
Date: 14th century
1 a : exposed to general view : OPEN b : WELL-KNOWN , PROMINENT c : PERCEPTIBLE , MATERIAL
2 a : of, relating to, or affecting all the people or the whole area of a nation or state < public law> b : of or relating to a government c : of, relating to, or being in the service of the community or nation
3 a : of or relating to people in general : UNIVERSAL b : GENERAL , POPULAR
4 : of or relating to business or community interests as opposed to private affairs : SOCIAL
5 : devoted to the general or national welfare : HUMANITARIAN
6 a : accessible to or shared by all members of the community b : capitalized in shares that can be freely traded on the open market ― often used with go
7 : supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by income from commercials < public radio> < public television>
– pub · lic · ness noun