conservatory

UK: /kənˈsɜː^rvətəri/

US: /kənˈsɝvəˌtɔri/

US: (kən sûr′və tôr′ē, -tōr′ē)

Inflections of 'conservatory' (n): npl: conservatories

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•serv•a•to•ry /kənˈsɜrvəˌtɔri/   n. [countable] , pl. -ries. 

1. Music and Dance a school giving training in art, drama, or music, esp. a school of music.
2. a building with a glass roof, for growing and displaying plants;
   greenhouse.

See -serv-².

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•serv•a•to•ry  (kən sûr′və tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), n., pl. -ries, adj. 
n. 

1. Music and Dance a school giving instruction in one or more of the fine or dramatic arts;
   specifically, a school of music.
2. a greenhouse, usually attached to a dwelling, for growing and displaying plants.
3. [Archaic.] a place where things are preserved.

adj. 

4. serving or adapted to conserve;
   preservative.

• French or Italian; see conservatoire
• Latin conservā(re) (see conserve) + -tory²; in the sense "music school''
• 1555–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conservatory / kənˈsɜːvətrɪ/ noun ( -tories)

1. a greenhouse, esp one attached to a house
2. another word for conservatoire