pub‧lic 1 S1 W1 / pʌblɪk / 形容词 #

1 ordinary people [仅用于名词前] relating to all the ordinary people in a country, who are not members of the government or do not have important jobs :

We have to show that publishing this story is in the public interest (= helpful or useful to ordinary people ) .

full public access to information

Public opinion is gradually shifting in favor of the imprisoned men.

There was a public outcry (= expression of anger by a lot of people ) about the shooting.

Their activities have been hidden from the public gaze (= people’s eyes or attention ) .

2 for anyone [仅用于名词前] available for anyone to use 反义词 private :

a public telephone

a public footpath

proposals to ban smoking in public places

a public library

public transport British English public transportation American English (= buses, trains etc )

3 government [仅用于名词前] relating to the government and the services it provides for people 反义词 private :

the Government’s public spending plans

We do not believe he is fit for public office (= a job in the government ) .

efforts to control public expenditure

public funding for the arts → public service

4 known about known about by most people :

Details of the highly sensitive information have not been made public .

Although not a public figure (= famous person ) , he was a man of great influence.

5 not hidden intended for anyone to know, see, or hear 反义词 private :

Today the school finds itself in the midst of a very public debate.

public display of grief/affection etc (= showing your emotions so that everyone can see )

She was acutely embarrassed by his public display of temper.

There will be a public inquiry into the sinking of the oil tanker.

a fear of public speaking

6 place with a lot of people a public place usually has a lot of people in it 反义词 private :

Let’s go somewhere less public where we can talk.

7 public life work that you do, especially for the government, that makes you well known to many people :

Howard seems to have retired from public life.

8 public image the public image of a famous person or organization is the character or attitudes that most people think they have

public image of

attempts to improve the public image of the police

9 go public

a) to tell everyone about something that was secret

go public on/with

The planners are almost ready to go public on the road-building scheme.

b) to become a public company :

Many partnerships went public in the 1980s to secure extra capital.

10 public appearance a visit by a famous person in order to make a speech, advertise something etc :

She is paid £10,000 for the briefest of public appearances.

11 the public eye someone who is in the public eye is seen a lot on television, written about in newspapers etc :

It is a job that brings him constantly into the public eye.

12 public property

a) something that is provided for anyone to use, and is usually owned by the government :

The army was called out to protect public property.

b) something that everyone has a right to know about :

Our lives seem to have become public property.

13 public enemy number one the criminal, problem etc that is considered the most serious threat to people’s safety :

Drugs have become public enemy number one.

public 2 S2 W2 noun #

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 OPP in private :
Her husband was always nice to her in public. → wash/air your dirty linen/laundry (in public) at dirty 1 ( 7 ) 3 [ singular, U also + plural verb British English ] the people who like a particular singer, writer etc :
He is adored by his public. The theatre-going public are very demanding.