| 1 |
[ adjective ] not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole
Examples "the public good" "public libraries" "public funds" "public parks" "a public scandal" "public gardens" "performers and members of royal families are public figures" Used in print (The Atlanta Constitution...)Rep._Mac_Barber of Commerce is asking the House in a privilege resolution to `` endorse increased federal support for public education , provided_that such funds be received and expended '' as state funds . (The Dallas Morning News,...)Daniel personally led the fight for the measure , which he had watered_down considerably since its rejection by two previous Legislatures , in a public hearing before the House_Committee_on_Revenue_and_Taxation . The West_Texan reported that he had finally gotten Chairman_Bill_Hollowell of the committee to set it for public hearing on Feb. 22 . (Edward E. Kelly, S.J., "Christian Unity in England"...)Nowhere have I seen public expression of anti-Catholicism . (Richard I. McCosh, "Recreation Site Selection"...)The same is true of areas which at_first look good because of a_few existing recreation features but may actually be poor areas to develop for general public use . Related terms private state open national semipublic state unexclusive in_the_public_eye overt exoteric |
| 2 |
[ noun ] people in general considered as a whole
Examples "he is a hero in the eyes of the public" Used in print (Musical America, LXXXI:5...)economic security and cultural opportunities , incisive idioms , social fermentations for a new national ideology - a sympathetic public and a large body of performers especially trained to fulfill his purpose . (Kenneth Reiner, "Coping with Runaway Technology"...)Perhaps the public 's present attitude toward business stems from the fact that the `` rugged capitalist entrepreneur '' no_more exists in America . Ideally speaking , it should be allowed to operate only where the public has a great stake in the continuity of supply or services , and where the actions of a single proprietor are secondary to the needs of society . Corporations are apt by_nature to be impersonal , inhumane , shortsighted and almost exclusively profit motivated , a picture they could scarcely afford to present to the public . From an initial investment of $ 1200 in 1943 , it has grown , with no additional capital investment , to a present value estimated by some as exceeding $ 10000000 ( we do n't disclose financial figures to the public ) . |
| 3 |
[ adjective ] affecting the people or community as a whole
Synonyms Examples "community leaders" "community interests" "the public welfare" Used in print (Edward Austin Walton, "On Education for the Interior...)The element of public danger which enters so largely into architectural certification , however , would demand a prolonged study of structure . Related terms |
| 4 |
[ noun ] a body of people sharing some common interest
Examples "the reading public" Used in print (Tristram P. Coffin, "Folklore in the American Twentieth...)Nevertheless , with a reading public that longs for `` the_good_old_days '' and with an awareness of our expanding international interests , it is easy for the Benets to obtain a magnified position in literature by use of all sorts of Americana , real or fake , and it is easy for the Steinbecks and Sandburgs to support their messages of reform by reading messages of reform into the minds of the folk . Related terms |
| * |
|