shelter
SHEHL-tuh
Shelter (noun) means a place, or structure, that protects you from bad weather, danger, or attack. Example: “The hikers found a stone shelter near the ridge and waited there until the wind dropped.”
noun
1
A place, or structure, that protects you from bad weather, danger, or attack.
"The hikers found a stone shelter near the ridge and waited there until the wind dropped."
"They built a rough shelter out of branches to get out of the rain."
"The bunker served as a shelter during the bombing raids."
2
An organization or building that offers temporary housing to people or animals who need it.
"The town opened a new shelter where families without a home can sleep and eat."
"She volunteers at a homeless shelter on weekends."
"They adopted their dog from the local animal shelter."
verb
1
To protect someone or something from harm, weather, or attack.
"The high hedge shelters the vegetable patch from the cold north wind."
"She sheltered the baby birds in a box until they were strong enough to fly."
"The old oak tree sheltered them from the sudden downpour."
2
To find or take cover somewhere.
"When the hail started, we sheltered in a doorway across the street."
"Walkers can shelter in the stone hut if the weather turns bad."
"They sheltered under the bridge until the storm passed."
How to use shelter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomewhere (or something) that keeps you safe from weather, danger, or hardship — as a noun a safe place, as a verb the act of protecting or hiding there.
Common pairings
take shelter
seek shelter
homeless shelter
animal shelter
shelter from the storm
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Word forms
- Plural
- shelters
- Third person singular
- shelters
- Past tense
- sheltered
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The hikers found a stone _____ near the ridge and waited there until the wind dropped.
Etymology
From a Middle English word for a wall of locked shields formed by soldiers, going back to Old English scyldtruma — literally a "shield-troop." The military sense of a protective barrier eventually broadened into the everyday meaning of any place offering cover or safety.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for shelter
See all rhymes for shelter →Frequently asked questions
What does “shelter” mean?
The word “shelter” means a place, or structure, that protects you from bad weather, danger, or attack. In plain terms, somewhere (or something) that keeps you safe from weather, danger, or hardship — as a noun a safe place, as a verb the act of protecting or hiding there.
How do you pronounce “shelter”?
“Shelter” is pronounced SHEHL-tuh (/ˈʃɛltəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shelter” in a sentence?
Here is “shelter” used in a sentence: “They built a rough shelter out of branches to get out of the rain.”
What part of speech is “shelter”?
Depending on how it is used, “shelter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shelter” come from?
The word “shelter” comes from Old English.
Is “shelter” a common word?
“Shelter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “shelter” have?
“Shelter” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a place, or structure, that protects you from bad weather, danger, or attack.
What is the difference between shelter and housing?
Shelter emphasises protection from bad weather, danger, or attack and can be temporary or basic. Housing refers to buildings that people live in as permanent homes rather than emergency cover.
What is the difference between shelter and refuge?
Both offer protection, but refuge stresses safety from pursuit, threat, or hardship. Shelter more often highlights cover from the weather or physical harm, though the two overlap closely.
Can shelter be used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, shelter means to protect someone or something, or to take cover, as in sheltering from the rain or sheltering a family from harm.
What are common phrases that use shelter?
Frequent collocations include seek shelter, take shelter, animal shelter, bomb shelter, and homeless shelter. These reflect both the sense of physical cover and the sense of an organisation offering temporary housing.
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