A cloister is a covered walkway that runs along the sides of a courtyard, usually found in monasteries, convents, or old universities. Picture a square or rectangular garden surrounded on all four sides by hallways with columns or arches opening toward the center. Monks and nuns would walk these peaceful paths for prayer and reflection, protected from rain and sun but still connected to the outdoors.

Cloisters were designed as quiet, contemplative spaces where religious communities could think, pray, and study away from the noise and distractions of the outside world.

You'll still find beautiful cloisters at many universities and cathedrals around the world. Some are centuries old, with stone columns and gardens in the center where flowers and herbs grow. The architecture creates a sense of calm and separation from the bustle beyond the walls.

The verb form, to cloister, means to shut away or isolate someone. If you cloister yourself in your room all weekend to finish a big project, you're deliberately keeping yourself separate and focused, like those monks walking their quiet hallways centuries ago.