Commons vs. Common

Commons vs. Common — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Commons and Common

Commonsnoun

A dining hall, usually at a college or university.

Commonadjective

Mutual; shared by more than one.

The two competitors have the common aim of winning the championship.Winning the championship is an aim common to the two competitors.

Commonsnoun

A central section of (usually an older) town, designated as a shared area, a common.

The Renaissance festival started with the "peasants" meeting in the commons.The commons is the green space surrounded by the village hall, the school, and the church.The commons of New England towns are important contributors to their charm.

Commonadjective

Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.

It is common to find sharks off this coast.

Commonsnoun

(figuratively) The mutual good of all; the abstract concept of resources shared by more than one, for example air, water, information.

res communis"The tragedy of the commons" is that none wish to make sacrifices of their or their family's interests for the common good.

Commonadjective

Found in large numbers or in a large quantity.

Sharks are common in these waters.
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Commonsnoun

An outhouse.

Commonadjective

Simple, ordinary or vulgar.

Commonsnoun

Food served at a fixed rate from the college buttery, distinguished from battels.

Commonadjective

(grammar) In some languages, particularly Germanic languages, of the gender originating from the coalescence of the masculine and feminine categories of nouns.

Commonsnoun

Food in general; rations.

short commons

Commonadjective

(grammar) Of or pertaining to common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.

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Commonsnoun

a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area;

they went for a walk in the park

Commonadjective

Vernacular, referring to the name of a kind of plant or animal, i.e., common name vs. scientific name.

Commonsnoun

a pasture subject to common use

Commonadjective

(obsolete) Profane; polluted.

Commonsnoun

class composed of persons lacking noble or knightly or gentle rank

Commonadjective

(obsolete) Given to lewd habits; prostitute.

Commonnoun

Mutual good, shared by more than one.

Commonnoun

A tract of land in common ownership; common land.

Commonnoun

The people; the community.

Commonnoun

(legal) The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right.

Commonverb

(obsolete) To communicate (something).

Commonverb

(obsolete) To converse, talk.

Commonverb

(obsolete) To have sex.

Commonverb

(obsolete) To participate.

Commonverb

(obsolete) To have a joint right with others in common ground.

Commonverb

(obsolete) To board together; to eat at a table in common.

Commonnoun

a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area;

they went for a walk in the park

Commonadjective

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public;

for the common goodcommon lands are set aside for use by all members of a community

Commonadjective

of no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual;

the common mana common sailorthe common colda common nuisancefollowed common procedureit is common knowledge that she lives alonethe common houseflya common brand of soap

Commonadjective

common to or shared by two or more parties;

a common friendthe mutual interests of management and labor

Commonadjective

commonly encountered;

a common (or familiar) complaintthe usual greeting

Commonadjective

being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language;

common parlancea vernacular termvernacular speakersthe vulgar tongue of the massesthe technical and vulgar names for an animal species

Commonadjective

of or associated with the great masses of people;

the common people in those days suffered greatlybehavior that branded him as commonhis square plebeian nosea vulgar and objectionable personthe unwashed masses

Commonadjective

of low or inferior quality or value;

of what coarse metal ye are moldedproduced...the common cloths used by the poorer population

Commonadjective

lacking refinement or cultivation or taste;

he had coarse manners but a first-rate mindbehavior that branded him as commonan untutored and uncouth human beingan uncouth soldier--a real tough guyappealing to the vulgar taste for violencethe vulgar display of the newly rich

Commonadjective

to be expected; standard;

common decency