monk
1 Americannoun
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(in Christianity) a man who has withdrawn from the world for religious reasons, especially as a member of an order of cenobites living according to a particular rule and under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
- Synonyms:
- brother
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(in any religion) a man who is a member of a monastic order.
a Buddhist monk.
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Printing. a dark area on a printed page caused by uneven inking of the plate or type.
noun
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(James) Arthur Art, born 1957, U.S. football player.
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Thelonious (Sphere), 1917–1982, U.S. jazz pianist and composer.
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George. Monck, George.
noun
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Thelonious ( Sphere ) (θəˈləʊnɪəs). 1920–82, US jazz pianist and composer
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a variant spelling of (George) Monck
noun
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a male member of a religious community bound by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
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(sometimes capital) a fancy pigeon having a bald pate and often large feathered feet
Related Words
Monk, friar refer to members of special male groups whose lives are devoted to the service of the church, especially in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox denominations. A monk is properly a member of a monastery, under a superior; he is bound by a vow of stability, and is a co-owner of the community property of the monastery. Since the Reformation, monk and friar have been used as if they were the same. A friar is, however, strictly speaking, a member of a mendicant order, whose members are not attached to a monastery and own no community property.
Etymology
Origin of monk
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Greek monachós “hermit,” noun use of adjective: “solitary,” equivalent to món(os) “alone” + -achos adjective suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
St David and his monks led a very simple and austere life, living off only leeks and water.
From BBC
Cambodian monks chanted blessings and scattered flowers Friday over 74 cultural artefacts returned to the country after being plundered by a notorious British antiques smuggler.
From Barron's
Japanese researchers have unveiled a robot monk powered by AI that they say can dispense spiritual advice, and which could one day ease shortages of its human counterparts.
From Barron's
Leo's visit, which is expected to focus on interfaith dialogue, comes 30 years after the beheading of seven French Trappist monks from a monastery during the 1990s civil war.
From Barron's
A Buddhist monk has drawn international attention after South Korea won landmark Olympic snowboard medals, capping decades of his support for young athletes in a sport long unpopular at home.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
