monastery Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the residence of a religious community

WordNet

Mon"as*te*ry noun
Etymology
L. monasterium, Gr. , fr. a solitary, a monk, fr. to be alone, live in solitude, fr. alone. Cf. Minister.
Wordforms
plural Monasteries
Definitions
  1. A house of religious retirement, or of secusion from ordinary temporal concerns, especially for monks; -- more rarely applied to such a house for females. Syn. -- Convent; abbey; priory. See Cloister.

Webster 1913