A collection, body, or society of persons engaged in common pursuits, or having common duties and interests, and sometimes, by charter, peculiar rights and privileges; as, a college of heralds; a college of electors; a college of bishops.

A society of scholars or friends of learning, incorporated for study or instruction, esp. in the higher branches of knowledge; as, the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and many American colleges.

A school offering studies that lead to an academic degree. A college can be part of a larger university system, or stand alone. Colleges not in a university system usually do not offer graduate degrees.

In the UK “college” is not used interchangeably with “university”.  Its various meanings include: A residential community like a dormitory (collegiate systems are found at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Durham) Sixth Form Colleges or Further Education Colleges replicate the final two years of US high school. They also offer vocational qualifications.

A building, or number of buildings, used by a college.

1. The building in which the King’s Scholars live. 2. The body of King’s Scholars.

a complex of buildings in which a college is housed

a group of people first, and a group of buildings second

Fig.: A community.

a community of secular clergy

a democracy of ideas - a democracy embracing all members of the campus community

a microcosm of the larger community