shelter

[ shel-ter ]

noun

1. something beneath, behind, or within which a person, animal, or thing is protected from storms, missiles, adverse conditions, etc.; refuge.

   Synonyms: harbor, haven, shield, sanctuary, asylum, retreat

2. the protection or refuge afforded by such a thing:

   He took shelter in a nearby barn.

3. protection from blame, incrimination, etc.
4. a dwelling place or home considered as a refuge from the elements:

   Everyone's basic needs are food, clothing, and shelter.

5. a building serving as a temporary refuge or residence for abandoned animals, people who are homeless, etc.: animal shelter.

   homeless shelter;

   animal shelter.

6. Finance. tax shelter.

verb (used with object)

1. to be a shelter for; afford shelter to:

   The old barn sheltered him from the rain.

   Synonyms: house, harbor

2. to provide with a shelter; place under cover.
3. to protect, as by shelter; take under one's protection:

   Parents should not try to shelter their children from normal childhood disappointments.

   Synonyms: defend, shield, safeguard, guard

4. Finance. to invest (money) in a tax shelter.

verb (used without object)

1. to take shelter; find a refuge:

   Students sheltered in the gymnasium when they heard the tornado sirens.

2. Finance. to invest money in a tax shelter.

shelter

/ ˈʃɛltə /

noun

1. something that provides cover or protection, as from weather or danger; place of refuge
2. the protection afforded by such a cover; refuge
3. the state of being sheltered

verb

1. tr to provide with or protect by a shelter
2. intr to take cover, as from rain; find refuge
3. tr to act as a shelter for; take under one's protection

Derived Forms

• ˈshelterer, noun
• ˈshelterless, adjective

Other Words From

• shel·ter·er noun
• shel·ter·ing·ly adverb
• shel·ter·less adjective
• shel·ter·less·ness noun
• self-shel·ter noun
• un·shel·ter·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelter¹

First recorded in 1575–85; of uncertain origin; perhaps alteration of obsolete sheltron “testudo” (a protective vault formed of Roman legionaries' shields), Old English scieldtruma, equivalent to scield + truma “body of men in battle formation”; shield ( def ), trim

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelter¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

See cover.

Example Sentences

Rosbeli Flores-Bello, Ibarra's former roommate, testified that the two had travelled together from New York City, where they had been living in a migrant shelter, to Georgia in search of work.

From BBC

Hundreds of people have been killed and between 100,000 and 130,000 others have been displaced to Gaza City, where the UN has said essential resources like shelter, water and healthcare are severely limited.

From BBC

One speaker, a mother, said she was on the verge of being homeless again after timing out of the county’s shelters.

From Los Angeles Times

But she would be eager to use federal property for temporary shelters — as some Trump administration officials proposed during his first term in office — Bass said.

From Los Angeles Times

"Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place," it said in a statement.

From BBC

Related Words

• harbor
• hide
• lodge
• protect
• shield
• surround
• take care of
• take in