conservatory
Americannoun
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conservatories
plural
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a school giving instruction in one or more of the fine or dramatic arts; specifically, a school of music.
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a greenhouse, usually attached to a dwelling, for growing and displaying plants.
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Archaic. a place where things are preserved.
adjective
noun
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a greenhouse, esp one attached to a house
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another word for conservatoire
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of conservatory
1555–65; < Latin conservā ( re ) ( see conserve) + -tory 2; in the sense “music school” < French or Italian; see conservatoire
Explanation
A conservatory is a place to grow. It could be one of those glass greenhouses where rare and delicate plants can thrive. Or it could be a place to grow your artistic talent — like a music conservatory. A conservatory can conserve more than just plants; it can conserve culture, too. And so we have the conservatory as a school for the fine arts, in particular ballet and classical music — often known by their fancy French title, conservatoire. The word comes from the Latin word conservare, meaning "to preserve."
Vocabulary lists containing conservatory
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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.
See Examples For:
Keep them ventilated during the day and, where possible, close internal doors between the conservatory and the rest of the house.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
Be sure to stay hydrated, cool and patient, as it’s humid inside the conservatory and lines can be long.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The conservatory posted that it might be a bud, meaning a flowering could come soon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
“A soaring two-story glass conservatory, expansive living and dining rooms, and an open-concept kitchen with sliding glass doors invite seamless indoor-outdoor living while overlooking the skyline,” the description went on.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 9, 2026
Nic took us to the conservatory where he’d studied violin.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Corpse flowers are showstoppers in the staid world of conservatories and botanic gardens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Similarly, don't leave animals shut inside conservatories, sheds or greenhouses.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2025
Even among conservatories, it is exceptional, with a wide age range — from preadolescence to post-baccalaureate adulthood — and a personalized approach, of schedules and repertoire, for musicians who live almost entirely for their art.
From New York Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
It is therefore particularly suitable for building balconies, conservatories, stairs or piers.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2023
Block, who befriended Maria, owned superb conservatories and gardens.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
