public square
5
2.5
- noun
- /ˈpʌblɪk skwɛr/
:
plaza
- The town slopes gently uphill away from the river, and the courthouse square and the public square enjoy views and breezes befitting their community status.
- streets and public square
We have seen him for a decade in the public square.
- We have seen him for a decade in the public square.
- We are not part of the street, we are not part of public square.
Examples
-
Only after they had crossed the public square did Fronto slow his pace.
Fiction book (1995) -
I was wondering how one would design a main public square for a city of 15 million inhabitants.
Blog text (14) -
However, what if these public squares were all of a sudden to shut down?
Blog text (8) -
All burst forth into the large public square
Fiction book (2002) -
The halqa took place every day in the round, dusty public square.
Fiction book (1998) -
One of the main public squares in Doordreich is the Scheffer's Plain, where you can have coffee next to his statue.
-
Despite the fortification of buildings, streets, and public squares, Rio de Janeiro's beaches remain widely regarded as democratic spaces of social diversity and accessibility.
Academic text (2012) -
Families often gather in the public square to celebrate festivals and concerts.
-
The mayor held a press conference in the public square to discuss the new city plans.
-
Every Saturday, local artists showcase their work in the vibrant public square of the town.
Synonyms
417
1.0
An open place in a town where streets meet
125
2.7
A large open public area in a town where people meet and hold events
19
7.4
An open public square in an Italian town where people gather
1
2.1
An open area in a town where people sell food and goods
A central public square in a town where people meet
A large open square in a town where people meet, sell goods, or protest
A small open square in an Italian town where people meet
An open town area where people meet to buy and sell goods
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning follows directly from combining 'public' (open to everyone) with 'square' (a town plaza or gathering place) to yield a communal space for public discussion; extending that physical gathering-place concept to an online forum is a predictable metaphor. This space-forum mapping is cross-linguistically common and therefore an average B1 learner who knows the constituents can plausibly infer the figurative sense.
Etymology
Public square comes from the idea of a wide, open square in the middle of a town where the public (people) could meet, sell things, and hear news. That's why it means 'an open area for gatherings and events'.