Public — Defs

01 a. Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; -- opposed to private; a…

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 treasury.
“To the public good Private respects must yield.” — Milton.

“He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet.” — D. Webster.
2.
Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
“Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.” — Matt. i. 19.
3.
Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house.

Phrases & compounds

public act — an act or statute affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes the courts take judicial notice.

Public credit — See under Credit.

Public funds — See Fund, 3.

Public house — an inn, or house of entertainment.

Public law — See International law, under International.

Public nuisance — See under Nuisance.

Public orator — See Orator, 3.

Public stores — military and naval stores, equipments, etc.

Public works — all fixed works built by civil engineers for public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed at the public cost.

02 n. The general body of mankind, or of a nation, state, or community; the people, indefinitely; as, the American public; also, a particular bod…

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.
“The public is more disposed to censure than to praise.” — Addison.
2.
A public house; an inn.[Scot.]

Phrases & compounds

In public — openly; before an audience or the people at large; not in private or secrecy.