college
college — noun
1. a place where people go to study after finishing high school, where they can ear
a place where people go to study after finishing high school, where they can earn a degree in a particular subject
Ravi went to college in Toronto to study business and economics.
go to college + subject of study
After high school, Leila applied to several colleges across the country.
apply to college
Diego saved money for two years before starting college in the autumn.
The college library stays open until midnight during exam week.
- university
often interchangeable in many English-speaking countries, though 'university' is more common for degree-granting institutions while 'college' may refer to a broader range of schools
- institute
more formal and often used for specialized or technical schools
常見錯誤
2. a school for people over the age of sixteen that teaches practical skills for a
a school for people over the age of sixteen that teaches practical skills for a particular job, such as cooking, car repair, or nursing
Priya enrolled at a local college to train as a veterinary nurse.
enroll at college + vocational training
The technical college near Yusuf's home runs courses in welding and plumbing.
Nadia completed a one-year college course in graphic design.
Many adults return to college to learn new job skills later in life.
- vocational school
focuses even more narrowly on hands-on job training rather than general education
- community college
common in the US; offers two-year degrees and vocational programs at lower cost
用法筆記
Commonly called a 'technical college', 'community college', or 'further education college' depending on the country. In the UK, it is often referred to as an 'FE college'.
3. a small, self-contained school within a larger university, such as those at Oxfo
a small, self-contained school within a larger university, such as those at Oxford and Cambridge, with its own buildings, teachers, and student social life
Tomás received an offer from King's College, one of the oldest colleges at Cambridge.
named college + university affiliation
Each college at Oxford has its own dining hall, library, and student accommodation.
St. John's College in Cambridge has a famous medieval library.
Students at these colleges eat most of their meals in the college dining hall.
- residential college
emphasizes the living aspect; some universities outside the UK also use this model
用法筆記
This sense is mainly UK-based. When applying to Oxford or Cambridge, students choose a specific college. In the US, large universities are divided into 'schools' or 'colleges' (see sense 4).
4. a division within a large university that focuses on a particular area of study,
a division within a large university that focuses on a particular area of study, such as engineering, arts, or medicine
Yara is studying architecture at the College of Design at State University.
College of [Subject] + university structure
The College of Medicine at Emory University runs several research centers.
The College of Agriculture runs a farm where students gain hands-on experience.
Aiko transferred from the College of Arts to the College of Science.
用法筆記
Common in US university names, where a 'college' is a semi-autonomous unit within a larger university. In the UK, this is usually called a 'faculty' or 'school'.
5. a school or part of a school in the UK for students aged sixteen to eighteen who
a school or part of a school in the UK for students aged sixteen to eighteen who are studying for exams that can lead to university
Hana is studying for her A-levels at a sixth-form college in Manchester.
sixth-form college + A-level preparation
Olu is studying biology and chemistry at a sixth-form college in Leicester.
named person + specific subjects + place
Mei finished her college course last summer and starts university this autumn.
Zara takes English, maths, and physics at the sixth-form college near her home.
- sixth form
the same meaning, often used without 'college'
- senior high school
the equivalent in the US and many other countries
用法筆記
Mainly used in the UK education system. Students typically attend sixth-form college for two years before applying to a university. In other countries, students of this age attend 'senior high school'.
6. a school for children, often a private school where parents pay fees, that uses
a school for children, often a private school where parents pay fees, that uses the word 'College' in its official name
Theo attended Eton College, a famous private school near London.
Eton College as a named private school
Wellington College is one of the best-known independent schools in the UK.
Cheltenham College was founded in 1841 and has a long history.
Parents pay high fees to send their children to this college.
- private school
the general term for fee-paying schools
- independent school
formal term used in the UK for private schools
用法筆記
In the UK and Australia, many prestigious private schools (called 'public schools' in British English) include 'College' in their names. This does NOT mean they are universities.
常見錯誤
7. a formal association of people working in the same profession, created to share
a formal association of people working in the same profession, created to share knowledge, set standards, or make important decisions for their field
The Royal College of Nursing published new workplace guidelines for hospital staff.
Royal College of [Profession]
Kofi presented his research at the annual conference of the College of Surgeons.
The College of Occupational Therapists offers training workshops every year.
Dr. Nadia Patel was elected president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
- association
a more general term; less formal than 'college' in this sense
- society
often used for scholarly or learned groups
- institute
commonly used for research-focused professional bodies
用法筆記
This sense is often found in the names of professional bodies, such as the Royal College of Physicians, the College of Law, or the Electoral College. These are associations, not schools.
8. all the teachers, students, and staff who belong to a college, thought of as a s
all the teachers, students, and staff who belong to a college, thought of as a single group
The whole college gathered in the main hall to listen to the guest speaker.
the whole college = the entire community
When the college voted on the new policy, both teachers and students took part.
The college celebrated its hundredth anniversary with a large outdoor party.
News of the scholarship spread quickly across the college.
- faculty and students
more explicit but less compact than 'college'
- campus community
includes the broader environment, not just the people
用法筆記
Used like a collective noun — 'the college' refers to the people, not the building. Similar to how 'the school' or 'the university' can refer to the community rather than the institution.