university

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: u=ni=ver=si=ty

CIDE DICTIONARY

university, n. [OE. universite, L. universitas all together, the whole, the universe, a number of persons associated into one body, a society, corporation, fr. universus all together, universal: cf. F. université. See Universe.].

•  The universe; the whole.  Dr. H. More.  [1913 Webster]
•  An association, society, guild, or corporation, esp. one capable of having and acquiring property.  [1913 Webster]

  "The universities, or corporate bodies, at Rome were very numerous. There were corporations of bakers, farmers of the revenue, scribes, and others."  [1913 Webster]
•  An institution organized and incorporated for the purpose of imparting instruction, examining students, and otherwise promoting education in the higher branches of literature, science, art, etc., empowered to confer degrees in the several arts and faculties, as in theology, law, medicine, music, etc. A university may exist without having any college connected with it, or it may consist of but one college, or it may comprise an assemblage of colleges established in any place, with professors for instructing students in the sciences and other branches of learning. In modern usage, a university is expected to have both an undergraduate division, granting bachelor's degrees, and a graduate division, granting master's or doctoral degrees, but there are some exceptions. In addition, a modern university typically also supports research by its faculty  [1913 Webster]

  " From the Roman words universitas, collegium, corpus, are derived the terms university, college, and corporation, of modern languages; and though these words have obtained modified significations in modern times, so as to be indifferently applicable to the same things, they all agree in retaining the fundamental signification of the terms, whatever may have been added to them. There is now no university, college, or corporation, which is not a juristical person in the sense above explained [see def. 2, above]; wherever these words are applied to any association of persons not stamped with this mark, it is an abuse of terms. Eng. Cyc. "  Eng. Cyc.  [1913 Webster]

  "The present universities of Europe were, originally, the greater part of them, ecclesiastical corporations, instituted for the education of churchmen . . . What was taught in the greater part of those universities was suitable to the end of their institutions, either theology or something that was merely preparatory to theology."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

university, n. (pl. -ies)
1 an educational institution designed for instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches of advanced learning, conferring degrees in various faculties, and often embodying colleges and similar institutions.
2 the members of this collectively.
3 a team, crew, etc., representing a university.

Idiom

at university studying at a university.

Etymology

ME f. OF universit{eacute} f. L universitas -tatis the whole (world), in LL college, guild (as UNIVERSE)

THESAURUS

university

academe, academia, academic, alma mater, classroom, college, college of engineering, collegiate, community college, degree-granting institution, extramural, four-year college, graduate school, institute of technology, interscholastic, intramural, ivied halls, journalism school, junior college, law school, medical school, multiversity, normal, normal school, postgraduate school, preschool, scholastic, school, school of communications, school of education, two-year college, university college, varsity

ROGET THESAURUS

university

School

N school, academy, university, alma mater, college, seminary, Lyceum, institute, institution, palaestra, Gymnasium, class, seminar, day school, boarding school, preparatory school, primary school, infant school, dame's school, grammar school, middle class school, Board school, denominational school, National school, British and Foreign school, collegiate school, art school, continuation school, convent school, County Council school, government school, grant-in-aid school, high school, higher grade school, military school, missionary school, naval school, naval academy, state-aided school, technical school, voluntary school, school, school of art, kindergarten, nursery, creche, reformatory, pulpit, lectern, soap box desk, reading desk, ambo, lecture room, theater, auditorium, amphitheater, forum, state, rostrum, platform, hustings, tribune, school book, horn book, text book, grammar, primer, abecedary, rudiments, manual, vade mecum, encyclopedia, cyclopedia, Lindley Murray, Cocker, dictionary, lexicon, professorship, lectureship, readership, fellowship, tutorship, chair, School Board Council of Education, Board of Education, Board of Studies, Prefect of Studies, Textbook Committee, propaganda, scholastic, academic, collegiate, educational, ex cathedra.