Adjacent Words

public works definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: structures (such as highways or schools or bridges or docks) constructed at government expense for public use

Merriam Webster's

noun plural Date: 1606 works (as schools, highways, docks) constructed for public use or enjoyment especially when financed and owned by the government

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. To the public good Private respects must yield. --Milton. He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --D. Webster. 2. Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal. Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. --Matt. i. 19. 3. Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house. ``The public street.'' --Shak. Public act or 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Public works are buildings, roads, and other projects that are built by the government or state for the public. N-PLURAL