college

noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin collegium society, from collega colleague — more at colleague Date: 14th century 1. a body of clergy living together and supported by a foundation 2. a building used for an educational or religious purpose 3. a. 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; also a university division offering this d. a part of a university offering a specialized group of courses e. an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field <

business college

> 4. company, group; specifically an organized body of persons engaged in a common pursuit or having common interests or duties 5. a. 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