A house of religious retirement, or of secusion from ordinary temporal concerns, especially for monks; -- more rarely applied to such a house for females.

Certain cheeses are linked historically in that they were originally developed by monks. They are known as monastery cheeses although they range in flavour and aroma considerably.

A residence for religious. A monastery is usually a large house* where many religious live. It may be dedicated to some special purpose such as formation, retirement, or retreat work. The area where the religious live is often designed as a Cloister.

a community as much as a building, a group of anchorites who have retreated from the world and its temptations in an attempt to find God's peace