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Definition of public - 7 dictionary results

pub⋅lic

  [puhb-lik]
Use public in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole: public funds; a public nuisance.
2. done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole: public prosecution.
3. open to all persons: a public meeting.
4. of, pertaining to, or being in the service of a community or nation, esp. as a government officer: a public official.
5. maintained at the public expense and under public control: a public library; a public road.
6. generally known: The fact became public.
7. familiar to the public; prominent: public figures.
8. open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public: a public dispute.
9. pertaining or devoted to the welfare or well-being of the community: public spirit.
10. of or pertaining to all humankind; universal.
–noun
11. the people constituting a community, state, or nation.
12. a particular group of people with a common interest, aim, etc.: the book-buying public.
13. British Informal. a tavern; public house.
—Idioms
14. go public,
a. to issue stock for sale to the general public.
b. to present private or previously concealed information, news, etc., to the public; make matters open to public view: The Senator threatened to go public with his Congressional-reform plan.
15. in public, not in private; in a situation open to public view or access; publicly: It was the first time that she had sung in public.
16. make public, to cause to become known generally, as through the news media: Her resignation was made public this morning.
Origin:
1400–50; < L pūblicus (earlier pōblicus, pōplicus, akin to populus people ); r. late ME publique < MF < L, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To public
pub·lic   (pŭb'lĭk)   
adj.  

  1. Of, concerning, or affecting the community or the people: the public good.

  2. Maintained for or used by the people or community: a public park.

  3. Capitalized in shares of stock that can be traded on the open market: a public company.

  4. Participated in or attended by the people or community: "Opinions are formed in a process of open discussion and public debate" (Hannah Arendt).

  5. Connected with or acting on behalf of the people, community, or government: public office.

  6. Enrolled in or attending a public school: transit passes for public students.

  7. Open to the knowledge or judgment of all: a public scandal.

n.  

  1. The community or the people as a whole.

  2. A group of people sharing a common interest: the reading public.

  3. Admirers or followers, especially of a famous person. See Usage Note at collective noun.


[Middle English publik, from Old French public, from Latin pūblicus, alteration (influenced by pūbēs, adult population) of poplicus, from populus, people, of Etruscan origin.]
pub'lic·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

public  (asj.)
1436, "of or pertaining to the people," from O.Fr. public (1311), from L. publicus, altered (by influence of L. pubes "adult population, adult") from Old L. poplicus "pertaining to the people," from populus "people." Meaning "open to all in the community" is from 1542. The noun meaning "the community" is attested from 1611. Public enemy is attested from 1756. Public relations first recorded 1913 (after an isolated use by Thomas Jefferson in 1807); abbreviation P.R. is from 1942. Public school is from 1580, originally, in Britain, a grammar school endowed for the benefit of the public, but most have evolved into boarding-schools for the well-to-do. The main modern meaning in U.S., "school (usually free) provided at public expense and run by local authorities," is attested from 1644. For public house, see pub.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

Public

Assets that can be traded in a public market, such as the stock market.

Investopedia Commentary

Any company that has issued stock to the public is a public company.

Related Links

IPO Basics Tutorial

See also: Stock

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pub·lic
Function: adjective
1 a : exposed to general view <public indecency> b : known or recognized by many or most people
2 a : of, relating to, or affecting all of the people or the whole area of a nation or state <public statutes> b : of or relating to a government : authorized by, administered by, or acting for the people as a political entity <public expenditures> public prosecutor> c : of, relating to, or being in the service of the community or nation public office> d : provided for, used by, or containing the records of a government agency public buildings>
3 : of or relating to people in general
4 : of or relating to business or community interests as opposed to private affairs <public policy> public concern>
5 : devoted to the general or national welfare public spirit>
6 : accessible to or shared by all members of the community public hearing> public park> —compare PRIVATE
7 : capitalized in shares that can be freely traded on the open market —often used with go —pub·lic·ly adverb

Main Entry: public
Function: noun
1 : a place accessible or visible to the public —usually used in the phrase in public
2 : the people as a whole
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

public

see go public; in public; in the public eye; John Doe (Q. Public); wash one's dirty linen in public.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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