Definitions and meaning of public
public
Alternative forms
- publick, publicke, publike, publique (all obsolete)
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman publik, public, Middle French public, publique et al., and their source, Latin pūblicus (“pertaining to the people”). Compare people.
Displaced native Old English ceorlfolc and Old English folclic.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈpʌblɪk/
-
- Rhymes: -ʌblɪk
- Hyphenation: pub‧lic
Adjective
public (comparative more public, superlative most public)
- Able to be seen or known by everyone; open to general view, happening without concealment. [from 14th c.]
- Pertaining to the people as a whole (as opposed to a private group); concerning the whole country, community etc. [from 15th c.]
- Officially representing the community; carried out or funded by the state on behalf of the community. [from 15th c.]
- Open to all members of a community; especially, provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes. [from 15th c.]
- (of a company) Traded publicly via a stock market.
- (not comparable, object-oriented programming) Accessible to the program in general, not only to the class or any subclasses.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
Noun
public (plural publics)
- The people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.
- (public relations) A particular group or demographic to be targeted.
- (archaic) A public house; an inn.
- (non-native speakers' English) An internet publication. Calque of Russian and Ukrainian па́блик (páblyk), па́блік (páblik).
Derived terms
Translations
References
- “public”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- public in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
- “public”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “public”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin pūblicus. The noun is from the adjective.
Pronunciation
Adjective
public (feminine publique, masculine plural publics, feminine plural publiques)
- public (various meanings)
- (relational) of the people as a whole; public [from 1238]
- l’intérêt public ― the public interest
- le bien public ― the public good
- La voix publique est pour lui. ― The public voice is for him.
- public; seen or known by everyone [from 1330]
- C’est une nouvelle qui est déjà publique. ― It's already public news.
- public; representing the state on behalf of the community [from 1390]
- Synonym: étatique
- pouvoirs publics ― public powers
- notaire public ― public notary
- public; open to all [from 1538]
- Synonym: commun
- lieu public ― public place
- fille publique ― streetwalker, prostitute (literally, “public girl”)
Derived terms
Noun
public m (plural publics)
- public (people in general) [from 1320]
- audience [from 1671]
- Il devait plaire à son public. ― He had to please his audience.
Derived terms
Further reading
- “public”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Ladin
Adjective
public m pl
- plural of publich
Occitan
Etymology
From Latin publicus.
Pronunciation
Adjective
public m (feminine singular publica, masculine plural publics, feminine plural publicas)
- public
- Antonym: privat
Derived terms
Noun
public m (plural publics)
- public, audience
Old French
Alternative forms
Adjective
public m (oblique and nominative feminine singular publique)
- public (not private; available to the general populace)
Derived terms
References
-
- publik on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French public, from Latin publicus.
Pronunciation
Adjective
public m or n (feminine singular publică, masculine plural publici, feminine and neuter plural publice)
- public
Declension
Noun
public n (plural publice)
- the public
Source: wiktionary.org