monk

Pluralmonks

Formsmonks, monking, monked

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A man who joins a religious group and gives his life to prayer and worship.

   Like a soldier who gives up normal life to serve: but for faith instead of a country.

   The monk spent each morning in silent prayer.

   Monks at the monastery grow their own vegetables.

   Similarbrother, friar

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A holy man who lived alone, instead of with others in a group.

   The old monk lived alone in a cave high on the mountain.

   Monks of that kind often spent years without seeing anyone.

   Similarhermit, recluse

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A large sea fish with a wide, flat head, also called the monkfish.

   The cook fried the monk and served it with potatoes.

   Fishermen caught many monks off the coast that day.

   Similaranglerfish

4. 4
   nounslangcountable

   A person who keeps to himself and stays away from other people.

   Like a turtle that stays inside its shell, away from everyone.

   Since losing his job, he's turned into a monk who barely leaves the house.

   Her brother became a monk after moving to the countryside alone.

   Similarloner, recluse, hermit

   Note
5. 5
   nounslangcountable

   An unmarried man who has no romantic or sexual partners.

   After years alone, his friends jokingly called him a monk.

   He's been a monk since college, never dating anyone.

   Similarcelibate

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   A South American monkey, also called the monk saki.

   The monk swung from tree to tree in the forest.

   We watched a group of monks eat fruit in the jungle.

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   A small European songbird, the bullfinch, with a short black cap.

   A monk landed on the branch and sang a soft song.

   Monks often eat the buds from fruit trees in spring.

   Similarbullfinch

8. 8
   verbintransitive

   To live as a monk in a religious order.

   He says he would rather monk than sit in an office all day.

   Many men monked there during the Middle Ages.

   Note
9. 9
   verbintransitive

   To act like a monk, especially by being quiet and thoughtful.

   He likes to monk in his room, sitting quietly for hours.

   She monked all afternoon, thinking about her future.

   Similarreflect, meditate

   Note
10. 10
    nouncolloquialcountable

    A monkey, the small climbing animal with a long tail.

    The monk swung from the rope at the zoo.

    We saw a funny little monk eating a banana.

    Similarmonkey

    Note

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