conservatory
Americannoun
-
a school giving instruction in one or more of the fine or dramatic arts; specifically, a school of music.
-
a greenhouse, usually attached to a dwelling, for growing and displaying plants.
-
Archaic. a place where things are preserved.
adjective
noun
-
a greenhouse, esp one attached to a house
-
another word for conservatoire
adjective
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
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
My Life with the Chimpanzees
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Mandy Milsom, also from the town, said the storm was "like something out of a movie" and it was "impossible" to count the holes in her conservatory roof.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Ms. Margulis recalls her studies at a music conservatory, steeped as it was in the view that music operated “in some ethereal realm,” pure and detached from the world.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
It’s 1917 when Lionel, a singing prodigy with a shy, polite bearing, meets charismatic amateur music historian David at a conservatory in Boston.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2025
"We put in a new kitchen, new bathrooms, we were planning a new conservatory and we had no intention of ever leaving," she said.
From BBC • May 27, 2025
She made it sound as if selling conservatory windows was a crime against humanity.
From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd
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.
