public

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Antonyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Related terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Usage notes 1.4.2 Derived terms 1.4.3 Translations 1.5 External links 2 French 2.1 Etymology 1 2.1.1 Adjective 2.2 Etymology 2 2.2.1 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old French < Latin publicus (“‘pertaining to the people’”), contr. from *populicus < populus (“‘people’”); see people.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpʰʌblɪk/, SAMPA: /"p_hVblIk/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Hyphenation: pub‧lic

[edit] Adjective

Wikipedia public (comparative more public, superlative most public)

1. Pertaining to the affairs or official affairs of all people, not just those of a private group; contrasted with private.
2. Open to all.
3. Funded by the government.
4. (of a company) Traded publicly via a stock market.

[edit] Antonyms

• private

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Related terms

• people
• population
• publican
• publication
• publicise, publicize
• publicist
• publicity
• publish
• republic

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

public (plural publics)

1. The people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.

   Members of the public may not proceed beyond this point.

   • 2007 May 4, Martin Jacques, The Guardian

     Bush and Blair stand condemned by their own publics and face imminent political extinction.

[edit] Usage notes

• Although generally considered uncountable, this noun does also have countable useage, as in the citation above.

[edit] Derived terms

• general public
• John Q. Public
• public relations
• public-spirited

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• public in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• public in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

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[edit] French

[edit] Etymology 1

From Latin publicus.

[edit] Adjective

public m. (f. publique, m. plural publics, f. plural publiques)

1. Public

[edit] Etymology 2

Noun use of public (cf Latin publicum).

[edit] Noun

public m. (plural publics)

1. Public (people in general)
2. audience

   Il devait plaire à son public.

   He had to please his audience