cloister
cloister — noun
- cloistersingular
- cloistersplural
1. a roofed passage with arches, running beside an inner court in a religious compl
a roofed passage with arches, running beside an inner court in a religious complex
Feng waited in the cloister while the choir practiced inside.
in the cloister for location beside a church
Morning light fell through the cloister onto rows of stone benches.
The students sketched arches in the old cloister beside the chapel.
architectural setting with arches
Rain tapped on the cloister as visitors crossed the monastery garden.
- stone cloister
- old cloister
- walk through the cloister
Grammar Patterns
in the cloister
walk through the cloister
around the cloister
Usage Note
Usually refers to the covered passage itself, not the whole monastery. It often appears in descriptions of church buildings, courtyards, and historic architecture.
2. a convent, monastery, or similar religious house set apart from ordinary public
a convent, monastery, or similar religious house set apart from ordinary public life
After college, Indra entered a cloister in northern Spain.
enter a cloister for joining a religious house
News from the city rarely reached the mountain cloister.
Her uncle donated books to a cloister that cared for elderly priests.
The village cloister opened its bakery to neighbors each Friday.
cloister as an institution
- enter a cloister
- mountain cloister
- leave the cloister
Grammar Patterns
enter a cloister
live in a cloister
leave the cloister
Usage Note
This sense names the institution as a place or community. In historical writing, it can also suggest the enclosed part reserved for the people living there.
3. a life lived as a monk or nun, away from normal social life and under religious
a life lived as a monk or nun, away from normal social life and under religious rules
By thirty, Élise had chosen the cloister over court life.
choose the cloister for entering monastic life
The novel follows a prince torn between marriage and the cloister.
After his brother died, Theo sought peace in the cloister.
His family hoped the cloister would calm his restless mind.
the cloister as a way of life
- choose the cloister
- life in the cloister
- the cloister over court life
- monasticism
more abstract and academic term for the religious way of life
- seclusion
broader word that does not necessarily involve religion
Grammar Patterns
choose the cloister
life in the cloister
retreat to the cloister
Usage Note
This sense is about the life itself, not the building or institution. It often appears in contrasts such as public life versus religious withdrawal.
cloister — verb
- cloisterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cloisters3rd person singular
- cloistering-ing form
- cloisteredpast simple
1. to keep someone apart from ordinary society, or to shut yourself away, in a mann
to keep someone apart from ordinary society, or to shut yourself away, in a manner like religious retreat
After the scandal, the family cloistered him at their country estate.
cloister + someone + at/in a place
The writer cloistered herself in a cabin to finish the book.
reflexive use for self-imposed seclusion
Monks were once cloistered from the town during the winter months.
Ritu cloistered herself from social media before the exam.
- cloistered himself away
- cloistered from the world
- cloistered at an estate
Grammar Patterns
cloister + someone + in + place
cloister yourself + from + the world
be cloistered from + ordinary life
Usage Note
This verb is literary and often suggests deliberate withdrawal, not simple privacy. It can describe religious seclusion, family protection, or someone isolating themselves to study or work.
2. to build a ring of covered arches around a courtyard, garden, or other open spac
to build a ring of covered arches around a courtyard, garden, or other open space
Workers cloistered the courtyard so monks could walk there in rain.
cloister + courtyard in architectural use
The architect planned to cloister the square on all four sides.
The new museum cloistered the herb garden with pale stone arches.
with stone arches showing the building method
A low brick passage cloistered the school garden.
- cloister the courtyard
- cloister the garden
- cloister the square
Grammar Patterns
cloister + courtyard
cloister + garden
cloister + square
Usage Note
This architectural verb is uncommon and usually appears in descriptions of design or restoration. The object is normally an open space such as a court, square, or garden.
Word family
- cloisteredadjectiveC2
Etymology
Cloister came into English through Old French from a Latin word for a locked or enclosed place. That history explains why the word can name both a covered monastic walkway and the idea of withdrawal from ordinary life.
First known use
13th century
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb