cloister
1 synonym for cloister, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A covered walkway bordering a courtyard, typically in a monastery or similar religious building.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
religious residence
How to use cloister
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cloistered life
monastic cloister
cloister oneself away
Etymology
From Old French cloistre, going back to Latin claustrum, "a place shut in" — from claudere, "to close." The same root gives us "claustrophobia."
Full origin of cloister →Frequently asked questions
What does “cloister” mean?
The word “cloister” means a covered walkway bordering a courtyard, typically in a monastery or similar religious building. In plain terms, a quiet, enclosed place cut off from the outside world — or the act of shutting yourself (or someone else) away like that.
How do you pronounce “cloister”?
“Cloister” is pronounced KLOYS-tuh (/ˈklɔɪstɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cloister” in a sentence?
Here is “cloister” used in a sentence: “Tourists wandered through the cathedral's ancient stone cloister.”
What part of speech is “cloister”?
Depending on how it is used, “cloister” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cloister” come from?
The word “cloister” comes from Latin. From Old French cloistre, going back to Latin claustrum, "a place shut in" — from claudere, "to close." The same root gives us "claustrophobia.".
How many meanings does “cloister” have?
“Cloister” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a covered walkway bordering a courtyard, typically in a monastery or similar religious building.
