/ ˈkɒlɪdʒ; NAmE ˈkɑːl-/ noun
1.
[ C , U ] (often in names) (in Britain) a place where students go to study or to receive training after they have left school :
a college of further education (= providing education and training for people over 16)
a secretarial college
the Royal College of Art
a college course / library / student
She's at college .
—see also community college (1), sixth-form college
2.
[ C , U ] (often in names) (in the US) a university where students can study for a degree after they have left school :
Carleton College
a college campus / student
a private college
He got interested in politics when he was in college .
She's away at college in California.
He's hoping to go to college next year.
—see also community college (2)
3.
[ C , U ] ( CanE ) a place where you can study for higher or more specialist qualifications after you finish high school
4.
[ C , U ] one of the separate institutions that some British universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, are divided into :
King's College, Cambridge
a tour of Oxford colleges
Most students live in college.
5.
(in the US) one of the main divisions of some large universities :
The history department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.
6.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] the teachers and/or students of a college
7.
[ C ] (especially in names, in Britain and some other countries) a secondary school , especially one where you must pay :
Eton College
8.
[ C ] (usually in names) an organized group of professional people with special interests, duties or powers :
the Royal College of Physicians
the American College of Cardiology
—see also electoral college
••
BRITISH / AMERICAN
college / university
In both BrE and NAmE a college is a place where you can go to study after you leave secondary school. In Britain you can go to a college to study or to receive training in a particular skill. In the USA you can study for your first degree at a college . A university offers more advanced degrees in addition to first degrees.
In NAmE college is often used to mean a university , especially when talking about people who are studying for their first degree. The is not used when you are talking about someone studying there:
My son has gone away to college.
• '
Where did you go to college?
' '
Ohio State University
.'
In BrE you can say:
My daughter is at college
•
My daughter is at university
. In NAmE you cannot use university or college in this way. You use it with a or the to mean a particular university or college:
My daughter is at college.
•
I didn't want to go to a large university
.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , from Latin collegium partnership, from collega partner in office, from col- together with + legare depute.