public
♦♦♦ pub|lic /p'ʌblɪk/
1 [N-SING-COLL] the N
You can refer to people in general, or to all the people in a particular country or community, as the public.
Lauderdale House is now open to the public...
Pure alcohol is not for sale to the general public...
Trade unions are regarding the poll as a test of the public's confidence in the government.
2 [N-SING-COLL] supp N
You can refer to a set of people in a country who share a common interest, activity, or characteristic as a particular kind of public.
Market research showed that 93% of the viewing public wanted a hit film channel.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public means relating to all the people in a country or community.
The President is attempting to drum up public support for his economic program.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public means relating to the government or state, or things that are done for the people by the state.
The social services account for a substantial part of public spending.
= government, state
● publicly [ADV] ADV -ed
...publicly funded legal services.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public buildings and services are provided for everyone to use.
The new museum must be accessible by public transport.
...a public health service available to all.
≠ private
6 [ADJ]
A public place is one where people can go about freely and where you can easily be seen and heard.
...the heavily congested public areas of international airports...
I avoid working in places which are too public.
≠ private
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
If someone is a public figure or in public life, many people know who they are because they are often mentioned in newspapers and on television.
I'd like to see more women in public life, especially Parliament.
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public is used to describe statements, actions, and events that are made or done in such a way that any member of the public can see them or be aware of them.
The National Heritage Committee has conducted a public inquiry to find the answer...
The comments were the ministry's first detailed public statement on the subject...
● publicly [ADV] usu ADV with v
He never spoke publicly about the affair...
9 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If a fact is made public or becomes public, it becomes known to everyone rather than being kept secret.
Blair wants any new evidence on IRA pub bombs made public...
10 [PHRASE] prep PHR
If someone is in the public eye, many people know who they are, because they are famous or because they are often mentioned on television or in the newspapers.
One expects people in the public eye to conduct their personal lives with a certain decorum...
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If a company goes public, it starts selling its shares on the stock exchange. (BUSINESS)
In 1951 AC went public, having achieved an average annual profit of more than £50,000.
12 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you say or do something in public, you say or do it when a group of people are present.
By-laws are to make it illegal to smoke in public.
13
to wash your dirty linen in public: see dirtygen|er|al pub|lic
[N-SING-COLL] the N
You can refer to the people in a society as the general public, especially when you are contrasting people in general with a small group.
These charities depend on the compassionate feelings and generosity of the general public...
Unemployment is 10 percent among the general public and about 40 percent among North African immigrants.pub|lic ad|dress sys|tem (public address systems)
[N-COUNT]
A public address system is a set of electrical equipment which allows someone's voice, or music, to be heard throughout a large building or area. The abbreviation PA is also used.pub|lic bar (public bars)
[N-COUNT]
In a British pub, a public bar is a room where the furniture is plain and the drinks are cheaper than in the pub's other bars.pub|lic com|pa|ny (public companies)
[N-COUNT]
A public company is a company whose shares can be bought by the general public. (BUSINESS)pub|lic con|veni|ence (public conveniences)
[N-COUNT]
A public convenience is a toilet in a public place for everyone to use. (BRIT FORMAL)pub|lic de|fend|er (public defenders)
[N-COUNT]
A public defender is a lawyer who is employed by a city or county to represent people who are accused of crimes but cannot afford to pay for a lawyer themselves. (AM)pub|lic do|main
[N-SING] usu in the N
If information is in the public domain, it is not secret and can be used or discussed by anyone.
It is outrageous that the figures are not in the public domain...pub|lic house (public houses)
[N-COUNT]
A public house is the same as a pub. (BRIT FORMAL)pub|lic lim|it|ed com|pa|ny (public limited companies)
[N-COUNT]
A public limited company is the same as a public company. The abbreviation plc is used after such companies' names. (BUSINESS)pub|lic nui|sance (public nuisances)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If something or someone is, or causes, a public nuisance, they break the law by harming or annoying members of the public. (LEGAL)
...the 45-day jail sentence he received for causing a public nuisance after taking part in a demonstration...
Back in the 1980s drug users were a public nuisance in Zurich.pub|lic opin|ion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Public opinion is the opinion or attitude of the public regarding a particular matter.
He mobilized public opinion all over the world against hydrogen-bomb tests.pub|lic prop|er|ty
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Public property is land and other assets that belong to the general public and not to a private owner.
...vandals who wrecked public property...
≠ private property
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
If you describe a person or thing as public property, you mean that information about them is known and discussed by everyone.
She complained that intimate aspects of her personal life had been made public property.pub|lic pros|ecu|tor (public prosecutors)
[N-COUNT]
A public prosecutor is an official who puts people on trial on behalf of the government and people of a particular country.pub|lic re|la|tions
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Public relations is the part of an organization's work that is concerned with obtaining the public's approval for what it does. The abbreviation PR is often used. (BUSINESS)
The move was good public relations...
George is a public relations officer for The John Bennett Trust.
2 [N-PLURAL]
You can refer to the opinion that the public has of an organization as public relations.
Limiting casualties is important for public relations.pub|lic school (public schools)
1 [N-VAR]
In Britain, a public school is a private school that provides secondary education which parents have to pay for. The pupils often live at the school during the school term.
He was headmaster of a public school in the West of England.
2 [N-VAR]
In the United States, Australia, and many other countries, a public school is a school that is supported financially by the government and usually provides free education.
...Milwaukee's public school system.pub|lic sec|tor
[N-SING] the N
The public sector is the part of a country's economy which is controlled or supported financially by the government. (BUSINESS)
To keep economic reform on track, 60,000 public-sector jobs must be cut.
≠ private sectorpub|lic serv|ant (public servants)
[N-COUNT]
A public servant is a person who is appointed or elected to a public office, for example working for a local or state government.pub|lic ser|vice (public services)
1 [N-COUNT]
A public service is something such as health care, transport, or the removal of waste which is organized by the government or an official body in order to benefit all the people in a particular society or community.
The money is used by local authorities to pay for public services.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
You use public service to refer to activities and jobs which are provided or paid for by a government, especially through the civil service.
...a distinguished career in public service.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public service broadcasting consists of television and radio programmes supplied by an official or government organization, rather than by a commercial company. Such programmes often provide information or education, as well as entertainment.
4 [N-UNCOUNT]
Public service activities and types of work are concerned with helping people and providing them with what they need, rather than making a profit.
...an egalitarian society based on cooperation and public service.pub|lic util|ity (public utilities)
[N-COUNT]
Public utilities are services provided by the government or state, such as the supply of electricity and gas, or the train network.
Water supplies and other public utilities were badly affected.pub|lic works
[N-PLURAL]
Public works are buildings, roads, and other projects that are built by the government or state for the public.
1 [N-SING-COLL] the N
You can refer to people in general, or to all the people in a particular country or community, as the public.
Lauderdale House is now open to the public...
Pure alcohol is not for sale to the general public...
Trade unions are regarding the poll as a test of the public's confidence in the government.
2 [N-SING-COLL] supp N
You can refer to a set of people in a country who share a common interest, activity, or characteristic as a particular kind of public.
Market research showed that 93% of the viewing public wanted a hit film channel.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public means relating to all the people in a country or community.
The President is attempting to drum up public support for his economic program.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public means relating to the government or state, or things that are done for the people by the state.
The social services account for a substantial part of public spending.
= government, state
● publicly [ADV] ADV -ed
...publicly funded legal services.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public buildings and services are provided for everyone to use.
The new museum must be accessible by public transport.
...a public health service available to all.
≠ private
6 [ADJ]
A public place is one where people can go about freely and where you can easily be seen and heard.
...the heavily congested public areas of international airports...
I avoid working in places which are too public.
≠ private
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
If someone is a public figure or in public life, many people know who they are because they are often mentioned in newspapers and on television.
I'd like to see more women in public life, especially Parliament.
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public is used to describe statements, actions, and events that are made or done in such a way that any member of the public can see them or be aware of them.
The National Heritage Committee has conducted a public inquiry to find the answer...
The comments were the ministry's first detailed public statement on the subject...
● publicly [ADV] usu ADV with v
He never spoke publicly about the affair...
9 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If a fact is made public or becomes public, it becomes known to everyone rather than being kept secret.
Blair wants any new evidence on IRA pub bombs made public...
10 [PHRASE] prep PHR
If someone is in the public eye, many people know who they are, because they are famous or because they are often mentioned on television or in the newspapers.
One expects people in the public eye to conduct their personal lives with a certain decorum...
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If a company goes public, it starts selling its shares on the stock exchange. (BUSINESS)
In 1951 AC went public, having achieved an average annual profit of more than £50,000.
12 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you say or do something in public, you say or do it when a group of people are present.
By-laws are to make it illegal to smoke in public.
13
to wash your dirty linen in public: see dirtygen|er|al pub|lic
[N-SING-COLL] the N
You can refer to the people in a society as the general public, especially when you are contrasting people in general with a small group.
These charities depend on the compassionate feelings and generosity of the general public...
Unemployment is 10 percent among the general public and about 40 percent among North African immigrants.pub|lic ad|dress sys|tem (public address systems)
[N-COUNT]
A public address system is a set of electrical equipment which allows someone's voice, or music, to be heard throughout a large building or area. The abbreviation PA is also used.pub|lic bar (public bars)
[N-COUNT]
In a British pub, a public bar is a room where the furniture is plain and the drinks are cheaper than in the pub's other bars.pub|lic com|pa|ny (public companies)
[N-COUNT]
A public company is a company whose shares can be bought by the general public. (BUSINESS)pub|lic con|veni|ence (public conveniences)
[N-COUNT]
A public convenience is a toilet in a public place for everyone to use. (BRIT FORMAL)pub|lic de|fend|er (public defenders)
[N-COUNT]
A public defender is a lawyer who is employed by a city or county to represent people who are accused of crimes but cannot afford to pay for a lawyer themselves. (AM)pub|lic do|main
[N-SING] usu in the N
If information is in the public domain, it is not secret and can be used or discussed by anyone.
It is outrageous that the figures are not in the public domain...pub|lic house (public houses)
[N-COUNT]
A public house is the same as a pub. (BRIT FORMAL)pub|lic lim|it|ed com|pa|ny (public limited companies)
[N-COUNT]
A public limited company is the same as a public company. The abbreviation plc is used after such companies' names. (BUSINESS)pub|lic nui|sance (public nuisances)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If something or someone is, or causes, a public nuisance, they break the law by harming or annoying members of the public. (LEGAL)
...the 45-day jail sentence he received for causing a public nuisance after taking part in a demonstration...
Back in the 1980s drug users were a public nuisance in Zurich.pub|lic opin|ion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Public opinion is the opinion or attitude of the public regarding a particular matter.
He mobilized public opinion all over the world against hydrogen-bomb tests.pub|lic prop|er|ty
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Public property is land and other assets that belong to the general public and not to a private owner.
...vandals who wrecked public property...
≠ private property
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
If you describe a person or thing as public property, you mean that information about them is known and discussed by everyone.
She complained that intimate aspects of her personal life had been made public property.pub|lic pros|ecu|tor (public prosecutors)
[N-COUNT]
A public prosecutor is an official who puts people on trial on behalf of the government and people of a particular country.pub|lic re|la|tions
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Public relations is the part of an organization's work that is concerned with obtaining the public's approval for what it does. The abbreviation PR is often used. (BUSINESS)
The move was good public relations...
George is a public relations officer for The John Bennett Trust.
2 [N-PLURAL]
You can refer to the opinion that the public has of an organization as public relations.
Limiting casualties is important for public relations.pub|lic school (public schools)
1 [N-VAR]
In Britain, a public school is a private school that provides secondary education which parents have to pay for. The pupils often live at the school during the school term.
He was headmaster of a public school in the West of England.
2 [N-VAR]
In the United States, Australia, and many other countries, a public school is a school that is supported financially by the government and usually provides free education.
...Milwaukee's public school system.pub|lic sec|tor
[N-SING] the N
The public sector is the part of a country's economy which is controlled or supported financially by the government. (BUSINESS)
To keep economic reform on track, 60,000 public-sector jobs must be cut.
≠ private sectorpub|lic serv|ant (public servants)
[N-COUNT]
A public servant is a person who is appointed or elected to a public office, for example working for a local or state government.pub|lic ser|vice (public services)
1 [N-COUNT]
A public service is something such as health care, transport, or the removal of waste which is organized by the government or an official body in order to benefit all the people in a particular society or community.
The money is used by local authorities to pay for public services.
2 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
You use public service to refer to activities and jobs which are provided or paid for by a government, especially through the civil service.
...a distinguished career in public service.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Public service broadcasting consists of television and radio programmes supplied by an official or government organization, rather than by a commercial company. Such programmes often provide information or education, as well as entertainment.
4 [N-UNCOUNT]
Public service activities and types of work are concerned with helping people and providing them with what they need, rather than making a profit.
...an egalitarian society based on cooperation and public service.pub|lic util|ity (public utilities)
[N-COUNT]
Public utilities are services provided by the government or state, such as the supply of electricity and gas, or the train network.
Water supplies and other public utilities were badly affected.pub|lic works
[N-PLURAL]
Public works are buildings, roads, and other projects that are built by the government or state for the public.