shelter

SHEL-tur/ˈʃɛltɚ/UKSHEL-tuh/ˈʃɛltə/

9 meanings of shelter

1
nouncountable
A safe place that protects a person or animal from rain, storms, or cold.
Like an umbrella that keeps you dry when it rains.
We found shelter from the rain under a big tree.
The cave gave the hikers shelter during the storm.
Similarrefuge, haven, cover
Note
2
noununcountable
Anything that gives a person or animal protection or cover from harm.
Like a shield that stops blows from reaching you.
The barn gave the animals shelter from the blazing sun.
Thick walls give good shelter from strong winds.
Similarcover, protection, shield, screen
Note
3
verbtransitive
To keep a person or thing safe from harm or attack.
Like holding an umbrella over someone so the rain misses them.
The wall shelters the garden from the cold wind.
She tried to shelter her children from the bad news.
Similarshield, protect, screen, guard
Oppositeexpose
Note
4
noununcountable
The state of being kept safe from harm or bad weather.
Like being wrapped in a warm blanket, safe from the cold.
The travelers stayed in shelter until the rain stopped.
Everyone felt safe once they were in shelter.
Similarsafety, protection, cover, refuge
Oppositeexposure
5
nouncountable
A safe place where people in need can stay and sleep for a while.
Like a safe place a friend offers you when you have nowhere else to go.
The shelter gave the family a warm bed for the night.
Volunteers serve hot meals at the shelter every evening.
Similarrefuge, sanctuary
Note
6
nouncountable
A small, simple structure built to give cover from the weather for a short time.
Like a small roof on poles that keeps the rain off you.
They built a wooden shelter to keep the firewood dry.
The campers crawled into a small shelter made of branches.
Similarhut
Note
7
nouncountable
A strong place, often underground, that keeps people safe from attack or danger outside.
Like a strong safe room that nothing outside can reach.
During the air raid, families rushed into the underground shelter.
They stocked the shelter with water and canned food before the bombing began.
Similarbunker
Note
8
verbintransitive
To go somewhere safe to get away from danger or bad weather.
Like running indoors when it suddenly starts to pour.
We sheltered under the bridge until the storm passed.
The sheep shelter beneath the trees when it rains.
Similarhide
9
nouncountable
A safe place that takes in lost or stray animals and cares for them.
Like a safe home for pets that have nowhere else to go.
We adopted our dog from the local shelter.
The shelter found homes for all the kittens.
Similarpound
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of shelter apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English scildtruma, meaning a group of soldiers with locked shields, from scyld ('shield') plus truma ('troop').