Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Public \Pub"lic\, n.
   1. The general body of mankind, or of a nation, state, or
      community; the people, indefinitely; as, the American
      public; also, a particular body or aggregation of people;
      as, an author's public.

            The public is more disposed to censure than to
            praise.                               --Addison.

   2. A public house; an inn. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott.

   {In public}, openly; before an audience or the people at
      large; not in private or secrecy. ``We are to speak in
      public.'' --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

in public
     adv : in a manner accessible to or observable by the public;
           openly; "she admitted publicly to being a communist"
           [syn: {publicly}, {publically}] [ant: {privately}]