abbeys Play /ˈabi/nounThe building or buildings occupied by a community of monks or nuns.Friaries were occupied by friars, abbeys were headed by abbots, priories by priors.monastery,convent,priory,cloister,friary,nunnery,religious house,religious community SYNONYMS cloisterconventfriarymonasterynunneryprioryreligious communityreligious house