n.1 an establishment for further or higher education, sometimes part of a university.
2 an establishment for specialized professional education (business college; college of music; naval college).
3 the buildings or premises of a college (lived in college).
4 the students and teachers in a college.
5 Brit. a public school.
6 an organized body of persons with shared functions and privileges (College of Physicians).
Phrases and idioms:
College of Arms (in the UK) a corporation recording lineage and granting arms. college of education Brit. a training college for schoolteachers. college pudding Brit. a small baked or steamed suet pudding with dried fruit.
Derivatives:
collegial adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF college or L collegium f. collega (as COLLEAGUE)