public school/ˌ·· ˈ·/ n [C] 1BrE an expensive school that parents pay to send their children to 【英】 〔学费昂贵的〕公学: Many of the people in the British Government went to public schools. 许多在英国政府工作的人读过公学。 2AmE a free school that is controlled and paid for by the government 【美】 〔免费的〕公立学校