commons

1. (usually singular in construction) A public area, especially a dining hall, at a college or university; a similar shared spaced elsewhere.singularusually

2. (usually singular in construction) A common (common land); especially, a central section of (usually an older) town, designated as a shared area.Examples: "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."singularusually

3. (figuratively) The mutual good of all; the abstract concept of resources shared by more than one, for example air, water, information.Examples: ""The tragedy of the commons" is that none wish to make sacrifices of their or their family's interests for the common good."Synonyms: res communisfiguratively

4. (chiefly historical) The free burghers/bourgeoisie of a given town, taken collectively.historical

5. (euphemistic, obsolete) An outhouse.Synonyms: common house, House of Commons, backhouse, backside, bog, boggard, boghouse, carseyeuphemisticobsolete

6. (obsolete, UK, Oxford University) Food served at a fixed rate from the college buttery, distinguished from battels.Examples: "At the same time, the fashion at Oxford of confining lunch to a "commons" of bread and butter and a glass of beer till the crew reaches Putney (when a little meat is allowed,) is unreasonable."UKobsolete