ˈkälij, -ēj noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin collegium society, from collega colleague — more at colleague
1. : a body of clergy living in common on a foundation
2. : a building or a number of buildings used in connection with some specific educational or religious purpose: as
a. : the precinct of an English cathedral
b. : a dormitory for students
3.
[Middle English, from Medieval Latin collegium, from Latin, society]
a. : a self-governing constituent body of a university offering living quarters and instruction, sometimes limited, but not granting degrees
Balliol and Magdalen Colleges at Oxford
b. : university
Edinburgh College
c. : preparatory or high school
Eton College
Girard College
d. : an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies and usually preprofessional training leading to a bachelor's degree
e. : a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses
this university has a college of dentistry
the college of engineering at the university
f. : an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field
teachers college
business college
army war college
barber college
college of embalming
4.
a. : company , assemblage , coterie , club
a college of courtesans
some dusty college of pedants
b. : a meeting or reunion of companions or associates
a college of Collegiants
5. : an organized body, guild, society, or group of persons engaged in a common pursuit, having common interests or a common duty or role and sometimes a charter or special rights and privileges
a college of cardinals serving as papal councillors and electors
a college of craftsmen
a college of witches was entrusted with the duty of annually choosing a beautiful girl to be the bride of the water-god — J.G.Frazer
specifically : college of arms
6.
a. : a collection of persons treated in law in one or more respects as a unit
b. : a body of electors — see electoral college
7. slang : prison , reformatory
8. : a course of study or of lectures
taking three colleges a year
9. : a charitable foundation in England providing residence and care : asylum , hospital
10. : the faculty, students, or administrative body of a college
the college stood behind any move to improve education
the college was at the football game in force