Search Result for "public works":
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

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


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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

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