From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcollegecol‧lege /ˈkɒlɪdʒ $ ˈkɑː-/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 ADVANCED EDUCATIONspecialized education [countable, uncountable]SEC a school for advanced education, especially in a particular profession or skill a teacher training college Donna left school and went to art college.college of the London College of Fashionat college We were great friends when we were at college.2 us universitySEC [countable, uncountable] American English a large school where you can study after high school and get a degree SYN university British English Some people who want to go to college still can’t get there.in college Fran just finished her freshman year in college. a decline in the number of college students studying history college graduates a college education college campuses → community college, junior college3 part of a universityPART OF UNIVERSITY [countable]SEC one of the groups of teachers and students that form a separate part of some universities, especially in Britain Trinity College, Cambridge4 students and teachersSTUDENTS AND TEACHERS [countable]SEC the students and teachers of one of these organizationsGRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?• In this meaning, college is usually followed by a singular verb: The college is putting on a production of ‘Twelfth Night’.• In British English, you can also use a plural verb: The college are putting on a production of ‘Twelfth Night’.5 professional organizationORGANIZATION [countable]GROUP OF PEOPLE a group of people who have special rights, duties, or powers within a profession or organization the American College of Surgeons6 name of a schoolSCHOOL [countable] British EnglishSE a word used in the name of some large schools, especially public schools → electoral collegeCOLLOCATIONSverbsgo to (a) collegeAfter university I went to drama college for a year.attend (a) college formal:He was the first person in his family to attend college.finish (at) collegeWhat are you going to do when you finish art college?ADJECTIVES/NOUN + collegean art/music/drama collegeThe Music College was founded in 1869.an agricultural/secretarial/technical etc collegeI wanted a job in farm management so I went to agricultural college.a teacher training college (=where you learn to be a teacher)a military college (=where you learn to be an officer in the army)a Further Education/FE college British English (=where adults can go to study, especially part-time)a tutorial college British English (=where you can have private or small group lessons)a sixth form college British English (=where students in Britain can go at 16, instead of a school)nounsa college student/teacher/lecturera sixth-form college student
Examples from the Corpus
college• Beyond that, McCord said she hopes to get a job and find a legitimate way to obtain a college education.• a college degree• The Training Commission's involvement in vocational training in local authority colleges of further education provides a further example.• Tim's at business college to learn computer accounting.• We hadn't seen each other since we graduated from college.• Often official syllabuses and timetables reflect the influence and expertise of infant method specialists in ministries or from colleges of education.• Our youngest daughter is in college now.• The grant money is for low-income college students.• Many college graduates are unable to find work in their field.• Impotence has for some time been the leading complaint at most college psychiatric clinics.• It can offer college education and job training as bonuses for new recruits.• Revell College at UC San Diego• He teaches at the college.• Half of the college must've been at the demonstration.• The college confirmed that he came second.• the College of Engineering• He goes away to college unimpeded, unrepentant.• My brother never went to college, but he still has a very good job.• She was not allowed into the pre-university college even though she had the necessary qualifications.college campuses• Campus networks include university and college campuses, research laboratories, private companies, and educational sites such as K-12 school districts.• Racist behavior on college campuses is, of course, not limited to students.• This was particularly the case on college campuses, where the young radicals of the New Left dominated public debate.• Others might want to take a concentration of advanced-placement courses or courses on college campuses.• Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., has said the tactic is a major problem on college campuses.• Merrill points out that most often rape on college campuses is date rape, but that date rape is rape.• Gay bashing has also been widely visible on college campuses.• On college campuses across the country, Chagnon's name is a dormitory word.Origin college (1300-1400) Old French Latin collegium “society”, from collega; → COLLEAGUE 