college

1 : a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation

2 : a building used for an educational or religious purpose

3a : a self-governing constituent body of a university offering living quarters and sometimes instruction but not granting degrees Balliol and Magdalen Colleges at Oxford

— called also residential college

b : a preparatory or high school

c : an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies leading to a bachelor's degree a liberal arts college also : a university division offering this

d : a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses the university's college of pharmacy

e : an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field business college an embalming college

4 : company, group specifically : an organized body of persons engaged in a common pursuit or having common interests or duties a college of cardinals serving as papal councillors and electors

5a : a group of persons considered by law to be a unit

b : a body of electors — compare electoral college

6 : the faculty, students, or administration of a college The college was at the football game in force.

Definition of college

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