Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

public

2 noun
     
Related topics: Performing
public2 S2 W2
1

the public

[also + plural verb British English] ordinary people who do not work for the government or have any special position in society:
The meeting will be open to the general public.
Police warned members of the public not to approach the man, who may be armed.
On the whole, the public are conservative about education.
2

in public

if you do something in public, you do it where anyone can see [≠ in private]:
Her husband was always nice to her in public.

➔ wash/air your dirty linen/laundry (in public)

at dirty1 (7)
3 [singular, U also + plural verb British English]AP the people who like a particular singer, writer etc:
He is adored by his public.
The theatre-going public are very demanding.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary results for "public"
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary