First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
college
noun, col·lege often attributive \ˈkä-lij\
: a school in the U.S. that you go to after high school : a school that offers courses leading to a degree (such as a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree)
: a part of an American university that offers courses in a specified subject
: a school in Britain that offers advanced training in a specified subject
Full Definition of COLLEGE
1
: a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation
2
: a building used for an educational or religious purpose
3
a : a self-governing constituent body of a university offering living quarters and sometimes instruction but not granting degrees <Balliol and Magdalen Colleges at Oxford> —called also residential college b : a preparatory or high school c : an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor's degree; also : a university division offering this d : a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses e : an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field <business college>
4
5
a : a group of persons considered by law to be a unit b : a body of electors — compare electoral college
6
: the faculty, students, or administration of a college
See college defined for English-language learners
See college defined for kids
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Origin of COLLEGE
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin collegium society, from collega colleague — more at colleague
Related to COLLEGE
- Synonyms
- board, brotherhood, chamber, club, association, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild (also gild), institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality
Other Education Terms
Rhymes with COLLEGE
COLLEGE Defined for Kids
college
noun col·lege \ˈkä-lij\
Definition of COLLEGE for Kids
: a school that offers more advanced classes than a high school
Learn More About COLLEGE
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