monastery definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

mon·as·ter·y [ mónnə stèrree ] (plural mon·as·ter·ies)

noun

Definition:

1. monks' residence: a building or buildings with grounds in which a group of people observing religious vows, especially monks, live together

2. community of monks: a group of people, especially monks, living together and observing religious vows

[14th century. Via ecclesiastical Latin monasterium< Greek monazein "live alone" < monos "one, alone"]

mon·as·te·ri·al [ mònnə stree əl ] adjective