com·mon (k m  n)adj. com·mon·er, com·mon·est 1. a. Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint: common interests. b. Of or relating to the community as a whole; public: for the common good. See Usage Note at mutual. 2. Widespread; prevalent. 3. a. Occurring frequently or habitually; usual. b. Most widely known; ordinary: the common housefly. 4. Having no special designation, status, or rank: a common sailor. 5. a. Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average: the common spectator. b. Of no special quality; standard: common procedure. c. Of mediocre or inferior quality; second-rate: common cloth. 6. Unrefined or coarse in manner; vulgar: behavior that branded him as common. 7. Grammar a. Either masculine or feminine in gender. b. Representing one or all of the members of a class; not designating a unique entity. n. Idiom: 1. commons The common people; commonalty. 2. commons (used with a sing. or pl. verb) a. The social class composed of commoners. b. The parliamentary representatives of this class. 3. The House of Commons. Often used in the plural. 4. A tract of land, usually in a centrally located spot, belonging to or used by a community as a whole: a band concert on the village common. 5. The legal right of a person to use the lands or waters of another, as for fishing. 6. commons (used with a sing. verb) A building or hall for dining, typically at a university or college. 7. Common stock. 8. Ecclesiastical A service used for a particular class of festivals. in common Equally with or by all. [Middle English commune, from Old French commun, from Latin comm  nis; see mei-1 in Indo-European roots.]com mon·ly adv.com mon·ness n.Synonyms: common, ordinary, familiar, vulgar These adjectives describe what is generally known or frequently encountered. Common applies to what takes place often, is widely used, or is well known: The botanist studied the common dandelion. The term also implies coarseness or a lack of distinction: My wallet was stolen by a common thief. Ordinary describes something usual that is indistinguishable from others, sometimes derogatorily: A ballpoint pen is adequate for ordinary purposes. The critic gave the ordinary performance a mediocre review. Familiar applies to what is well known or quickly recognized: Most children can recite familiar nursery rhymes. Vulgar describes association with the great mass of people and often connotes lack of refinement: "He [Shakespeare] was not something sacred and aloof from the vulgar herd of men" (William Hazlitt). See Also Synonyms at general. |
commons [ˈkɒmənz]
n
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (functioning as plural) people not of noble birth viewed as forming a political order
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (functioning as plural) the lower classes as contrasted to the ruling classes of society; the commonalty
3. (Social Science / Education) (functioning as singular) Brit a building or hall for dining, recreation, etc., usually attached to a college
4. (Social Science / Education) (usually functioning as plural) Brit food or rations (esp in the phrase short commons)
Commons [ˈkɒmənz]
n
(Government, Politics & Diplomacy)
the See House of Commons
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | commons - a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area; "they went for a walk in the park" amusement park, funfair, pleasure ground - a commercially operated park with stalls and shows for amusement populated area, urban area - a geographical area constituting a city or town village green - a village park consisting of a plot of grassy land |
| 2. | commons - a pasture subject to common use grazing land, ley, pasture, pastureland, lea - a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock | |
| 3. | commons - a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rank social class, socio-economic class, stratum, class - people having the same social, economic, or educational status; "the working class"; "an emerging professional class" | |
| 4. |  Commons - the common people estate of the realm, the three estates, estate - a major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country (especially in the United Kingdom) and formerly possessing distinct political rights Britain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom France, French Republic - a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe |
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