Main Entry:

col·lege

Pronunciation:

\ˈkä-lij\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin collegium society, from collega colleague — more at colleague

Date:

14th century

1: a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation2: a building used for an educational or religious purpose3 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: company, group ; specifically : an organized body of persons engaged in a common pursuit or having common interests or duties5 a: a group of persons considered by law to be a unit b: a body of electors — compare electoral college6: the faculty, students, or administration of a college