college

[ kol-ij ]

/ ˈkɒl ɪdʒ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR college ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an institution of higher learning, especially one providing a general or liberal arts education rather than technical or professional training.Compare university.

a constituent unit of a university, furnishing courses of instruction in the liberal arts and sciences, usually leading to a bachelor's degree.

an institution for vocational, technical, or professional instruction, as in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, or music, often a part of a university.

an endowed, self-governing association of scholars incorporated within a university, as at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England.

a similar corporation outside a university.

the building or buildings occupied by an institution of higher education.

the administrators, faculty, and students of a college.

(in Britain and Canada) a private secondary school.

an organized association of persons having certain powers and rights, and performing certain duties or engaged in a particular pursuit: The electoral college formally selects the president.

a company; assemblage.

Also called collegium. a body of clergy living together on a foundation for religious service or similar activity.

British Slang. a prison.

Nearby words

collector, collector electrode, collector's item, collectorate, colleen, college, college board, college of advanced technology, college of cardinals, college of education, college of justice

Origin of college

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French < Latin collēgium, equivalent to col- col-¹ + lēg-, variant stem of legere to gather + -ium -ium; cf. colleague

Related forms

post·col·lege, noun, adjectivepre·col·lege, noun, adjectivesub·col·lege, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for college

This is the Mexico that U.S. college students would be wise to steer clear of on spring break.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Under the current president and his predecessor, Jett notes, the ambassadorship of Belize has gone to college roommates.
U.S. Embassies Have Always Been for Sale|William O’Connor|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In my four years of college, I know exactly one woman who has asked a man out on a date.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating|Ellie Schaack|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He had studied accounting in college, but he had become a cop for the same reason as Ramos.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The congressman traces his belief in Santa Claus back 40 years, when he was a student going to college “on the GI Bill.”
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Near the college grounds is a race course, with training stables attached.
Ainslee's magazine, Volume 16, No. 2, September, 1905|Various
The college of St. Aloysius was immediately begun and opened its classes with 150 students.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell
He hung about the house for several days, dreading the return to college and Mrs. Winkler.
The Forbidden Trail|Honor Willsie
He knew what it would mean to Langridge not to pitch—that he would be out of athletics for the rest of his college course.
The Rival Pitchers|Lester Chadwick
Ruth M—— was a college junior with ancestry and wealth, brilliant, sarcastic, selfish.
The Girl and Her Religion|Margaret Slattery

British Dictionary definitions for college

college

/ (ˈkɒlɪdʒ) /

noun

an institution of higher education; part of a university

a school or an institution providing specialized courses or teachinga college of music

the building or buildings in which a college is housed

the staff and students of a college

an organized body of persons with specific rights and dutiesan electoral college See also Sacred College

a body of clerics living in community and supported by endowment

mainly British an obsolete slang word for prison

Word Origin for college

C14: from Latin collēgium company, society, band of associates, from collēga; see colleague

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012