Advertisement

View synonyms for

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: , , , , ,
  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: ,
  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: , , ,
  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

/ ˈʃɛə /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

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

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
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelter1

C16: of uncertain origin
Discover More

Synonym Study

See cover.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Any nearby shelter whose manager they could call to ask about a missing resident?

From

It came amid six waves of Iranian attacks overnight - launched in response to large-scale Israeli air strikes on Iran - that sent millions of people running for shelter.

From

A mobile alert went out to Minneapolis area residents warning them to "shelter in place."

From

The centre had been providing emergency shelter for families.

From

He died while sheltering several of his neighbours in his one bedroom flat as the blaze took hold.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Sheltashelter belt