convent
n. countablen. a building where a group of religious women, such as nuns, live and work together.
n. a community of religious women, typically nuns, living under a shared rule; also refers to the physical premises they inhabit.
She decided to join a convent and become a nun.
The old stone convent on the hill has been home to the same order of sisters for over a century.
While many historic convents have been converted into museums or hotels, some still function as secluded spaces for prayer, education, and community service.
From Middle English convent, variant of covent, from Old French covent, from Latin conventus, perfect participle of the verb convenio (whence ultimately convene), see con- + venio. Doublet of coven.
From Latin convenio (past participle conventus), whence also convene; so of the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1.
Often used with the definite article when referring to the specific lifestyle or institution.