(in Christianity) a man who has withdrawn from the world for religious reasons, esp.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

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

a Buddhist monk.

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

noun

abbot , anchorite , ascetic , brother , cenobite , eremite , friar , hermit , monastic , priest , recluse , religious , solitarynotes:the difference between a monk and a friar is that friars get out and do not stay in monasteries , abb , anchoret , capuchin , carthusian , cistercian , clerk , fakir , fra , franciscan , lama , neophyte , novice , postulant , votary