commons
/'kɔmənz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The common people: "commons" refers to ordinary people who are not part of the nobility, clergy, or other privileged classes.
- A class of people lacking clerical or noble rank: Specifically denotes a social class in historical contexts, such as the House of Commons in British Parliament.
- A pasture subject to common use: Land that is owned collectively or by one entity but over which others have traditional rights, such as for grazing animals.
- A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area: A public park or green space available for community use.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The House of Commons is the lower house of the UK Parliament.
- In medieval villages, the commons was essential for peasants to graze their livestock.
- The city commons is a popular spot for picnics and frisbee.
- The politician claimed to represent the interests of the commons.
Advanced Usage
- "The tragedy of the commons": An economic theory describing how individuals acting independently according to their own self-interest can ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone's long-term interest for this to happen.
- Overfishing in international waters is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons.
Variants and Related Words
- Common (adj): Belonging to or shared by two or more people or things; occurring, found, or done often.
- English is a common language for international business.
- Commoner (n): A person without noble rank or title.
- Historically, a commoner could not marry into the royal family without permission.
Synonyms
- Commonality: The state of sharing features or attributes; common people collectively.
- Populace: The ordinary people in a society.
- Common land: Land owned collectively or by one person, but over which others have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze.
Related Phrases
- To short commons: To have an insufficient supply of food.
- During the siege, the citizens were put on short commons.
Related Idioms
- "As a member of the commons": Referring to someone's status as an ordinary citizen.
- He spoke not as a lord, but as a member of the commons.
Noun
- the common people
- a class composed of persons lacking clerical or noble rank
- a pasture subject to common use
- a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area
- they went for a walk in the park