Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Definition of university noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Oxford3000

university

noun
university pronunciation English ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəti university pronunciation American ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsəti
[countable, uncountable] plural universities (abbr. Univ.)
 
an institution at the highest level of education where you can study for a degree or do research
Is there a university in this town?Ohio State Universitythe University of YorkYork University (British English) Both their children are at university. (British English) He's hoping to go to university next year.a university course/degree/lecturer see also state university
Idioms

the university of life

(informal) the experience of life thought of as giving somebody an education, instead of the person gaining formal qualificationsa degree from the university of life
Usage notesUsage note: EducationLearningacquire/get/lack (an) education/training/(British English) (some) qualificationsreceive/provide somebody with training/tuitiondevelop/design/plan a curriculum/(especially British English) course/(North American English) program/syllabusgive/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminarhold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshopsign up for/take a course/classes/lessonsSchoolgo to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery schoolbe in the first, second, etc. (North American English) grade/(especially British English) year (at school)study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.(British English) leave/finish/drop out of/(North American English) quit school(North American English) graduate high school/collegeProblems at schoolbe the victim/target of bullying(British English) play truant from/(both British English, informal) bunk off/skive off school (= not go to school when you should)(both especially North American English) skip/cut class/school(British English) cheat in/(North American English) cheat on an exam/a testget/be given a detention (for doing something)be expelled from/be suspended from schoolWork and examsdo your homework/(British English) revision/a project on somethingwork on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/(North American English) a paperfinish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies/courseworkhand in/(North American English) turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paperstudy/prepare/(British English) revise/(North American English) review/(North American English, informal) cram for a test/an examtake/(both British English) do/sit a test/an exam(especially British English) mark/(especially North American English) grade homework/a test(British English) do well in/(North American English) do well on/(informal, especially North American English) ace a test/an exampass/fail/(informal, especially North American English) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subjectUniversityapply to/get into/go to/start college/(British English) universityleave/graduate from law school/college/(British English) university (with a degree in computer science)study for/take/(British English) do/complete a law degree/a degree in physics(both North American English) major/minor in biology/philosophyearn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master's degree/a bachelor's degree/a PhD in economicsUsage notesUsage note: college / universityIn both British English and North American English a college is a place where you can go to study after you leave secondary school. In Britain you can go to a college to study or to receive training in a particular skill. In the US you can study for your first degree at a college. A university offers more advanced degrees in addition to first degrees.In North American English college is often used to mean a university, especially when talking about people who are studying for their first degree. The is not used when you are talking about someone studying there: My son has gone away to college. Where did you go to college? ’ ‘ Ohio State University.’In British English you can say: My daughter is at university. In North American English you cannot use university or college in this way. You use it with a or the to mean a particular university or college: I didn’t want to go to a large university.