monasteries
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmɑnəˌstɛɹiz// UK //mˈɒnɑːstəɹiz// monas·ter·ies
n. buildings where groups of monks live, work, and pray together away from the rest of society.
n. buildings or complexes inhabited by communities of monks living under religious vows and in seclusion from the secular world.
The monks spend their days praying and gardening in the monasteries.
Many medieval monasteries served as vital centers of learning and preserved ancient manuscripts for centuries.
The architectural layout of these remote monasteries reflects a commitment to silence and self-sufficiency, with cloisters designed to facilitate private meditation away from communal work areas.
Usage
Plural form of 'monastery'.