monk
see also: Monk
Pronunciation Etymology 1

From Middle English monk, from Old English munuc, from Proto-West Germanic *munik, from Late Latin monicus, variant of monachus, from Ancient Greek μοναχός, from μόνος ("alone").

Noun

monk (plural monks)

  1. A male member of a monastic order who has devoted his life for religious service.
  2. In earlier usage, an eremite or hermit devoted to solitude, as opposed to a cenobite, who lived communally.
    • 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 20, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC ↗:
      Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one, while in the case of monk and crusader there must have been a sustaining purpose, and possibly a great abnegation, a leaving of lands and possessions.”
  3. (slang) A male who leads an isolated life; a loner, a hermit.
  4. (slang) An unmarried man who does not have sexual relationships.
  5. (slang) A judge.
  6. (printing, archaic) An inkblot.
  7. A South American monkey (Pithecia monachus); also applied to other species, as Cebus xanthosternos.
  8. The bullfinch, common bullfinch, European bullfinch, or Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula).
  9. The monkfish.
  10. (historical) A fuse for firing mines.
Synonyms Related terms Translations Translations Verb

monk (monks, present participle monking; simple past and past participle monked)

  1. To be a monk.
  2. To act like a monk; especially to be contemplative.
  3. To monkey or meddle; to behave in a manner that is not systematic.
  4. To be intoxicated or confused.
  5. To be attached in a way that sticks out.
Etymology 2

By shortening.

Noun

monk (plural monks)

  1. (colloquial) A monkey.

Monk
Proper noun
  1. Surname.



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