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

Other Word Forms

• shelterer noun
• shelteringly adverb
• shelterless adjective
• shelterlessness noun
• self-shelter noun
• unsheltering 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

Schools were turned into shelters for displaced people.

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"It's not often in our sheltered world that we are put in a position where we have no idea how we're going to react," noted Sir Stephen.

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A home is not just shelter or belongings.

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Among those who died was Anthony Marks, 51, who was assaulted in August 2024 near London's King's Cross station while sheltering in a bin shed.

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Ladybirds have been taking advantage of the dry, sunny conditions this week to fly and find a sheltered warm spot to hide in for winter.

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Related Words

• asylum 
• dwelling 
• haven 
• home 
• house 
• hut 
• lodging 
• refuge 
• safety 
• sanctuary 
• shack 
• shed 
• tent