Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

Source : WordNet®

public nuisance
     n : a nuisance that unreasonably interferes with a right that is
         common to the general public; "a public nuisance offends
         the public at large" [syn: {common nuisance}]