1 : a school in the U.S. that you go to after high school : a school that offers courses leading to a degree (such as a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree) [count] ▪ She teaches art at a local college. ▪ He graduated from one of the country's best colleges. ▪ She attended a business college. [noncount] ▪ He attended college for several years, but didn't graduate. ▪ She dropped out of college. ▪ Where did you go to college? [=what college did you attend?] ▪ I went to Mount Holyoke College. ▪ When I was a junior in college, I spent a semester in Spain. — often used before another noun ▪ college students/courses/professors ▪ He is a college graduate. ▪ She was the first in her family to get a college education. ▪ a college campus ▪ college athletic programs — compare university; see also community college, junior college, state college 2 [count] : a part of an American university that offers courses in a specified subject — often + of ▪ He attended the university's college of dentistry/engineering/medicine. 3 a : a school in Britain that offers advanced training in a specified subject [count] ▪ an arts college ▪ the Edinburgh College of Art ▪ the London College of Fashion [noncount] ▪ She is attending fashion college.
b [count] : a separate part of a large British university where students live and take courses
▪ Balliol College at Oxford 4 [count] formal : an organized group of people who have similar jobs or interests
▪ She is a member of the American College of Cardiology. ▪ the college of cardinals — see also electoral college