Definition of "private" in 英语

adjective

1. Belonging or pertaining to an individual person, group of people, or entity that is not the state.

   • In some countries, healthcare is provided by both the government and private companies.

2. Relating to an individual or group of individuals outside of their official roles; often, sensitive or personal.

   • This book is her private journal.

3. Not publicly known or divulged; secret, confidential; (of a message) intended only for a specific person or group.

   • The identity of the beneficiaries of the trust is private.

4. Protected from view or disturbance by others; secluded; not publicly accessible.

   • Can we go somewhere more private?

5. Not in governmental office or employment.

   • Military secrets should not be entrusted to unreliable private individuals.

6. Secretive; reserved.

   • He is a very private person.

7. (finance) Not traded by the public.

   • private equity

8. Of a room in a medical facility, not shared with another patient.

9. (UK, of schools) Financially reliant on fees rather than government funding.

10. (not comparable, object-oriented programming) Accessible only to the class itself or instances of it, and not to other classes or even subclasses.

11. (philosophy) Of the mind or language, not in principle experienceable, knowable, or understandable by others.

noun

1. A soldier of the lowest rank in the army.

2. A doctor working in privately rather than publicly funded health care.

3. (euphemistic, in the plural) The genitals.

4. (obsolete) A secret message; a personal unofficial communication.

5. (obsolete) Personal interest; particular business.

6. (obsolete) Privacy; retirement.

7. (obsolete) One not invested with a public office.

8. (usually in the plural) A private lesson.

   • If you want to learn ballet, consider taking privates.

verb

1. (Internet, transitive) To make something hidden from the public (without deleting it permanently).