kəˈlegēəm, -ˈ(āg- also -ˈlejē- noun
( plural colle·gia -gēə, -jēə, -jə ; or collegi·ums -əmz)
Etymology: Latin — more at college
1.
a. : college 5
b. Roman & civil law : an association of individuals of the same class or rank formed to promote their common interest in some business pursuit or enterprise
2.
[modification (influenced by Latin collegium ) of Russian kollegya, from Latin collegium ]
: an executive body with each member having approximately equal power and authority ; specifically often capitalized : a board or committee responsible for the work of a commissariat or a nationalized industry under a soviet system of government