monk

¹

[ muhngk ]

noun

1. (in Christianity) a man who has withdrawn from the world for religious reasons, especially as a member of an order of cenobites living according to a particular rule and under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

   Synonyms: brother

2. (in any religion) a man who is a member of a monastic order:

   a Buddhist monk.

3. Printing. a dark area on a printed page caused by uneven inking of the plate or type. Compare friar ( def 2 ).

Monk

²

[ muhngk ]

noun

1. (James) Arthur Art, born 1957, U.S. football player.
2. The·lo·ni·ous [th, uh, -, loh, -nee-, uh, s] (Sphere), 1917–1982, U.S. jazz pianist and composer.
3. George. Monck, George.

Monk

¹

/ mʌŋk /

noun

1. MonkThelonious (Sphere)19201982MUSMUSIC: jazz pianistMUSIC: composer Thelonious ( Sphere ) (θəˈləʊnɪəs). 1920–82, US jazz pianist and composer
2. a variant spelling of (George) Monck

monk

²

/ mʌŋk /

noun

1. a male member of a religious community bound by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience monastic
2. sometimes capital a fancy pigeon having a bald pate and often large feathered feet

Word History and Origins

Origin of monk¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Greek monachós “hermit,” noun use of adjective: “solitary,” equivalent to món(os) “alone” + -achos adjective suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of monk¹

Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Late Greek: solitary (man), from Greek monos alone

Synonym Study

Monk, friar refer to members of special male groups whose lives are devoted to the service of the church, especially in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox denominations. A monk is properly a member of a monastery, under a superior; he is bound by a vow of stability, and is a co-owner of the community property of the monastery. Since the Reformation, monk and friar have been used as if they were the same. A friar is, however, strictly speaking, a member of a mendicant order, whose members are not attached to a monastery and own no community property.

Example Sentences

This complete protein powder is made from pea, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seed, and chia seed proteins and flavored with ingredients like cacao, coconut milk, and monk fruit.

From Popular-Science

Little is known about Westwyk, but Falk re-creates his life through an account of the life events and duties of monks at that time.

From Science News

One does not have to be a monk to practice Buddhist ethics, but one must practice self-cultivation and compassion in daily life.

From MIT Technology Review

As the monk Gregor Mendel laid out in his study of pea plants, a particular version of a gene typically has a 50-50 chance of being passed on to the next generation.

From Science News

Ancient monks used a beautiful blue chemical in paintings in medieval manuscripts — and scientists finally figured out where it comes from.

From Science News For Students

He was one of living symbols of “White Ribbon Revolution” of 2012, always in black, slim, shaved, almost a monk.

From The Daily Beast

The Austria-based restaurant was first noted by the scholar and monk Albuin, who was a devout follower of Charlemagne.

From The Daily Beast

Strange is sometimes assisted by Wong, another monk gifted to Dr. Strange by The Ancient One.

From The Daily Beast

One day, he took a monk with a cleanly shaven head and had him walk around a light bulb to demonstrate this theory.

From The Daily Beast

Then, he decided to give it all up and become a Buddhist monk.

From The Daily Beast

Only the day before he died, he had said this to Father Francis, a young Brazilian monk, to whom he was greatly attached.

From Project Gutenberg

"Let me get the man something to eat," said Yung Pak as the monk seated himself upon a mat.

From Project Gutenberg

Ferdinando Ugheli, a Florentine monk, died; distinguished for his learning and his virtues.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside its darkened walls a single monk chanted his monotonous prayer before an altar.

From Project Gutenberg

John Laurence Berti, a learned monk of Tuscany, died; author of about 20 quarto volumes of divinity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abbot
• friar
• priest