shelter

shel|ter¹ [ˈʃeltə US -ər] n

[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Perhaps from sheltron 'group of fighting soldiers protected by shields' (11-16 centuries), from Old English scieldtruma, from scield 'shield' + truma 'group of soldiers']

1.) [U]

a place to live, considered as one of the basic needs of life

▪ They are in desperate need of food and shelter.

2.) [U]

protection from danger or from wind, rain, hot sun etc

shelter of

▪ We eventually reached the shelter of the caves.

in/into/under etc the shelter of sth

▪ They were standing under the shelter of a huge tree.

▪ The men took shelter in a bombed-out farmhouse.

▪ All around me, people were running for shelter .

shelter from

▪ An old hut gave shelter from the storm.

3.)

a building where people or animals that have nowhere to live or that are in danger can stay and receive help

shelter for

▪ a shelter for battered women

▪ a homeless shelter (=for people who have no homes)

▪ an animal shelter

4.)

a building or an area with a roof over it that protects you from the weather or from danger

air-raid/bomb/fall-out shelter

(=a place to keep people safe from bombs dropped by planes)

bus shelter

BrE (=a small structure with a roof where you wait for a bus)

→↑bomb shelter, ↑tax shelter

shelter ²

shelter² v

1.) [T]

to provide a place where someone or something is protected, especially from the weather or from danger

▪ Collins was arrested for sheltering enemy soldiers.

shelter sb/sth from sb/sth

▪ Plant herbs next to a wall to shelter them from the wind.

2.) [I]

to stay in or under a place where you are protected from the weather or from danger

shelter from

▪ We sat in the shade, sheltering from the sun.