[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

public \pub"lic\, a. l. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people:
   cf. f. public. see people.
   1. of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people;
      relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community;
      -- opposed to private; as, the public treasury.
      1913 webster

            to the public good
            private respects must yield.          --milton.
      1913 webster

            he alexander hamilton touched the dead corpse of
            the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --d.
                                                  webster.
      1913 webster

   2. open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common;
      notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
      1913 webster

            joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public
            example, was minded to put her away privily. --matt.
                                                  i. 19.
      1913 webster

   3. open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public
      house. "the public street." --shak.
      1913 webster

   public act or public statute law, an act or statute
      affecting matters of public concern. of such statutes the
      courts take judicial notice.

   public credit. see under credit.

   public funds. see fund, 3.

   public house, an inn, or house of entertainment.

   public law.
      a see international law, under international.
      b a public act or statute.

   public nuisance. law see under nuisance.

   public orator. eng. universities see orator, 3.

   public stores, military and naval stores, equipments, etc.
      

   public works, all fixed works built by civil engineers for
      public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but
      strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed
      at the public cost.
      1913 webster
see also:
people private public act public statute public credit credit 
public funds fund public house public law international law 
international public nuisance nuisance public orator orator 
public stores public works 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

public law
     n : a law affecting the public at large

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