ˌyünəˈvərsəd.ē, -və̄s-, -vəis-, -s(ə)tē, -i noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English universite, from Old French université, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin, & Latin; Medieval Latin universitat-, universitas university (sense 1), from Late Latin, company, corporation, guild, from Latin, totality, universe, from universus entire, whole + -itat-, -itas -ity — more at universe
1.
a. archaic : a body of persons gathered at a particular place for the disseminating and assimilating of knowledge in advanced fields of study
b. : an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees: as
(1) : an institution in the British Commonwealth authorized to hold examinations and confer degrees and usually consisting of several affiliated or associated colleges
(2) : a continental European institution concentrating on or exclusively concerned with advanced or professional study
(3) : an institution made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates
c. : the physical plant of a university
2. obsolete
a. : universe
b. : a body of persons
c. : the mass of the people
3. : a corporation, guild, association, or other body (as of persons) that is treated as a unit at law : universitas