/ ˈkɒmən; NAmE ˈkɑːmən/ adjective , noun
■ adjective ( com·mon·er , com·mon·est )
HELP NOTE : more common and most common are more frequent
1.
happening often; existing in large numbers or in many places :
Jackson is a common English name.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in this country.
Some birds which were once a common sight are now becoming rare.
a common spelling mistake
OPP uncommon
2.
[ usually before noun ] common (to sb/sth) shared by or belonging to two or more people or by the people in a group :
They share a common interest in photography.
basic features which are common to all human languages
We are working together for a common purpose.
common ownership of the land
This decision was taken for the common good (= the advantage of everyone) .
It is, by common consent , Scotland's prettiest coast (= everyone agrees that it is) .
3.
[ only before noun ] ordinary; not unusual or special :
the common garden frog
Shakespeare's work was popular among the common people in his day.
In most people's eyes she was nothing more than a common criminal .
You'd think he'd have the common courtesy to apologize (= this would be the polite behaviour that people would expect) .
It's only common decency to let her know what's happening (= people would expect it) .
4.
( BrE , disapproving ) typical of sb from a low social class and not having good manners :
She thought he was very common and uneducated.
•
IDIOMS
- common or garden
- the common touch
- make common cause with sb
—more at knowledge
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an area of open land in a town or village that anyone may use :
We went for a walk on the common.
Wimbledon Common
2.
commons [ sing. ] ( US ) a large room where students can eat in a school, college, etc. :
The commons is next to the gym.
•
IDIOMS
- have sth in common (with sb)
- have sth in common (with sth)
- in common
- in common with sb/sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French comun (adjective), from Latin communis .