conservatory
Americannoun
plural
conservatories-
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 ) ( conserve ) + -tory 2; in the sense “music school” < French or Italian; 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.
He paid a waste disposal company to take away the pond lining sheet as well as hairdressing equipment from the conservatory.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
She approached the headmaster at her conservatory who placed her in a string ensemble before advancing her to the symphony orchestra as a violinist.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 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 was on a brick path that led away from the conservatory, and on either side of the path hedges grew to the height of her shoulders.
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
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.
