college

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noun

/ˈkɑlɪdʒ/

singular	college
plural	colleges

Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

Am/Br differences

1
[countable/uncountable] in the U.S., a place that gives students degrees. A school of this type can also be called a university if it is large enough to give degrees in more than one subject
a college professor
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of college
1. a.
  [singular] all the students and teachers in a college
  The whole college was talking about it.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of college
2. b.
  [countable] one of the parts that some universities are divided into
  the University of Mexico's College of Arts and Sciences
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of college
3. c.
  [countable/uncountable] in the U.K., a place that gives students qualifications below the level of a university degree, often in the skills they need to do a particular job
  be at college (=be studying at college):
  She's at secretarial college.
  go to college:
  Paul's going to college in September.
  I've just started a college course.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of college
4. d.
  [countable/uncountable] in the U.K., a place that gives students degrees in a particular subject
  art/agricultural college
  the Royal College of Music
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of college
2
[countable] used in the names of some organizations whose members belong to a particular profession, especially a medical profession
the American College of Surgeons
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of college
3
College
used in the names of some British private schools
Eton College
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of college

Am/Br differences: college

Differences between American and British English: college

In the U.S., a college refers to a place where people study for their bachelor's degree (=first degree), whether the institution is a college, which offers only bachelor's degrees, or a university, which offers both bachelor's degrees and advanced degrees. When British speakers use the word college, they usually mean a place where students over 18 are trained in a particular subject or skill, earning a qualification that is not usually an academic degree. Students in the U.K. who are studying for an academic degree go to a university.

This is the American English definition of college. View British English definition of college.

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