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public

 - 6 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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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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