Definition of: conclave

(kon′klāv, kong′-) noun
1. A secret council or meeting.
2. In the Roman Catholic Church, the apartments in the Vatican in which the college of cardinals meets to choose a pope, and which is kept locked until the election is over; also, the assembly or meeting of the cardinals. See synonyms under ASSEMBLY, CABAL, COMPANY. [<F <L, a place which can be locked up <com- together + clavis key]