a group of long-established universities in the eastern US having high academic and social prestige. It includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia
常春藤联合会(美国东部一些历史悠久大学的联合组织,以她们杰出的学术成就以及显要的社会威望而著称,包括哈佛大学、耶鲁大学、普林斯顿大学、哥伦比亚大学等)。
" with reference to the ivy traditionally growing over the walls of these establishments. "