n. pl. u·ni·ver·si·ties 1. An institution for higher learning with teaching and research facilities typically including a graduate school and professional schools that award master's degrees and doctorates and an undergraduate division that awards bachelor's degrees. 2. The buildings and grounds of such an institution. 3. The body of students and faculty of such an institution. [Middle English universite, from Old French, from Medieval Latin ūniversitās, from Latin, the whole, a corporate body, from ūniversus, whole; see UNIVERSE.] |
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