public domain nounDate: 1832 1. land owned directly by the government 2.
the realm embracing property rights that belong to the community at large, are
unprotected by copyright or patent, and are subject to appropriation by anyone
public domain
If information is in the public domain, it is not secret and can be used or discussed
by anyone.
It is outrageous that the figures are not in the public domain...N-SING: usu in the N
Domain \Do*main"\, n. [F. domaine, OF. demaine, L. dominium,
property, right of ownership, fr. dominus master, owner. See
Dame, and cf Demesne, Dungeon.]
1. Dominion; empire; authority.
2. The territory over which dominion or authority is exerted;
the possessions of a sovereign or commonwealth, or the
like. Also used figuratively.
The domain of authentic history. --E. Everett.
The domain over which the poetic spirit ranges. --J.
C. Shairp.
3. Landed property; estate; especially, the land about the
mansion house of a lord, and in his immediate occupancy;
demesne. --Shenstone.
4. (Law) Ownership of land; an estate or patrimony which one
has in his own right; absolute proprietorship; paramount
or sovereign ownership.
Public domain, the territory belonging to a State or to the
general government; public lands. [U.S.]
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