public
adj
1 of, relating to, or concerning the people as a whole
2 open or accessible to all
public gardens
3 performed or made openly or in the view of all
public proclamation
4 prenominal well-known or familiar to people in general
a public figure
5 usually prenominal maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a community
a public library
6 open, acknowledged, or notorious
a public scandal
a (of a private company) to issue shares for subscription by the public
b to reveal publicly hitherto confidential information
n
8 the community or people in general
9 a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etc. the racing public (C15: from Latin publicus, changed from poplicus of the people, from populus people)
certified public accountant
n (in the U.S.) a public accountant certified to have met state legal requirements
Compare →
certified accountant
Director of Public Prosecutions
n (in Britain) an official who, as head of the Crown Prosecution Service, is responsible for conducting all criminal prosecutions initiated by the police, (Abbrev.)
DPP
Joe Public
n
Slang the general public
notary public
n pl , notaries public a public official, usually a solicitor, who is legally authorized to administer oaths, attest and certify certain documents, etc.
public-address system
n a system of one or more microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers for increasing the sound level of speech or music, used in auditoriums, public gatherings, etc., (Sometimes shortened to)
PA system
public assistance
n (U.S.) payment given to individuals by government agencies on the basis of need
public bar
n (Brit) a bar in a public house usually serving drinks at a cheaper price than in the saloon bar, (Also called)
the public Compare →
private bar
public bill
n (in Parliament) a bill dealing with public policy that usually applies to the whole country
Compare →
private bill →
hybrid bill
public company
n a limited company whose shares may be purchased by the public and traded freely on the open market and whose share capital is not less than a statutory minimum; public limited company
Compare →
private company
public convenience
n a public lavatory, esp. one in a public place
public corporation
n (in Britain) an organization established to run a nationalized industry or state-owned enterprise. The chairman and board members are appointed by a government minister, and the government has overall control
public debt
n (Chiefly U.S)
1 the total financial obligations incurred by all governmental bodies of a nation
2 another name for →
national debt
public defender
n (in the U.S.) a lawyer engaged at public expense to represent indigent defendants
public domain
n
1 (U.S.) lands owned by a state or by the federal government
2 the status of a published work or invention upon which the copyright or patent has expired or which has not been patented or subject to copyright. It may thus be freely used by the public
3 ♦
in the public domain able to be discussed and examined freely by the general public
public enemy
n a notorious person, such as a criminal, who is regarded as a menace to the public
public enterprise
n economic activity by governmental organizations
Compare →
private enterprise →
1
public expenditure
n spending by central government, local authorities, and public corporations
public footpath
n a footpath along which the public has right of way
public gallery
n the gallery in a chamber of Parliament reserved for members of the public who wish to listen to the proceedings, (Also called)
strangers gallery
public health inspector
n (in Britain) a former name for →
Environmental Health Officer
public holiday
n a holiday observed over the whole country
public house
n
1 (Brit) the formal name for →
pub
2 (U.S. and Canadian) an inn, tavern, or small hotel
public law
n
1 a law that applies to the public of a state or nation
2 the branch of law that deals with relations between a state and its individual members
Compare →
private law
Public Lending Right
n the right of authors to receive payment when their books are borrowed from public libraries, (Abbrev.)
PLR
public-liability insurance
n (in Britain) a form of insurance, compulsory for any business in contact with the public, which pays compensation to a member of the public suffering injury or damage as a result of the policyholder or his employees failing to take reasonable care
public limited company
n another name for →
public company (Abbrev.)
plc, PLC
public nuisance
n
1 (Law) an illegal act causing harm to members of a particular community rather than to any individual
2 Informal a person who is generally considered objectionable
public opinion
n the attitude of the public, esp. as a factor in determining the actions of government
public ownership
n ownership by the state; nationalization
public prosecutor
n (Law) an official in charge of prosecuting important cases
Public Record Office
n an institution in which official records are stored and kept available for inspection by the public
public relations
n functioning as sing or pl
a the practice of creating, promoting, or maintaining goodwill and a favourable image among the public towards an institution, public body, etc.
b the methods and techniques employed
c (as modifier)
the public relations industry
2 the condition of the relationship between an organization and the public
3 the professional staff employed to create, promote, or maintain a favourable relationship between an organization and the public, (Abbrev.)
PR
public school
n
1 (in England and Wales) a private independent fee-paying secondary school
2 (in the U.S.) any school that is part of a free local educational system
public sector
n the part of an economy that consists of state-owned institutions, including nationalized industries and services provided by local authorities
Compare →
private sector
public servant
n
1 an elected or appointed holder of a public office
2 the Austral. and N.Z. name for →
civil servant
public service
n
b the management and administration of the affairs of a political unit, esp. the civil service
a a service provided for the community
buses provide a public service
b (as modifier)
a public-service announcement
3 the Austral. and N.Z. name for the →
civil service
public-service corporation
n (U.S) a private corporation that provides services to the community, such as telephone service, public transport
public speaking
n the art or practice of making speeches to large audiences
♦
public speaker n
public spending
n expenditure by central government, local authorities, and public enterprises
public-spirited
adj having or showing active interest in public welfare or the good of the community
public transport
n a system of buses, trains, etc., running on fixed routes, on which the public may travel
public utility
n an enterprise concerned with the provision to the public of essentials, such as electricity or water, (Also called (U.S.))
public-service corporation
public works
pl n engineering projects and other constructions, financed and undertaken by a government for the community