something beneath, behind, or within which a person, animal, or thing is protected from storms, missiles, adverse conditions, etc.; refuge.
the protection or refuge afforded by such a thing: He took shelter in a nearby barn.
protection from blame, incrimination, etc.
a dwelling place or home considered as a refuge from the elements: Everyone's basic needs are food, clothing, and shelter.
a building serving as a temporary refuge or residence for homeless persons, abandoned animals, etc.: homeless shelter;animal shelter.
Finance. tax shelter.
verb (used with object)
to be a shelter for; afford shelter to: The old barn sheltered him from the rain.
to provide with a shelter; place under cover.
to protect, as by shelter; take under one's protection: Parents should not try to shelter their children from normal childhood disappointments.
Finance. to invest (money) in a tax shelter.
verb (used without object)
to take shelter; find a refuge: Students sheltered in the gymnasium when they heard the tornado sirens.
Finance. to invest money in a tax shelter.
Origin of shelter
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”; see origin at shield, trim
Milan Nicole Sherry, co-director of House of Tulip, told the Washington Blade on July 27 during an interview at her Uptown New Orleans home that she expects the shelter will open in the city next spring or summer.
New Orleans shelter to be ‘forever home’ for homeless trans people|Michael K. Lavers|August 27, 2020|Washington Blade
Normally, most of the thousands of evacuees would be directed to traditional emergency shelters in convention centers and school gyms.
Covid-19 is pushing Hurricane Laura evacuees to hotels instead of shelters|Tim McDonnell|August 27, 2020|Quartz
It’s especially important to look out for these behaviors if you’ve just adopted a shelter animal.
How to help your pet with separation anxiety|Sara Kiley Watson|August 26, 2020|Popular Science
This speaks directly to notions from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where work largely addresses psychological and safety needs such as shelter, food, and financial well-being.
The Global Work Crisis: Automation, the Case Against Jobs, and What to Do About It|Peter Xing|August 6, 2020|Singularity Hub
This bureaucratic hurdle exists on top of the many challenges migrants are facing in the midst of the pandemic, including a shortage of shelter beds and a lack of food and jobs.
Morning Report: With Building Folly, City Real Estate Director Out|Voice of San Diego|August 4, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The grim instability of shelter life is hardly a recipe for success under the best of circumstances.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Some of them are trying to find places where they might be able to shelter if it comes to this.
Has the Kurdish Victory at Sinjar Turned the Tide of ISIS War?|Niqash|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They sacrifice their shelter to contain the walkers—and Judith gets her first action scene!
The Walking Dead’s Midseason Finale Shocker: A Cherished Character Meets a Grisly End|Melissa Leon|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After weeks or months in the line only a wound can offer him the comfort of safety, shelter, and a bed.
Blood in the Sand: When James Jones Wrote a Grunt’s View of D-Day|James Jones|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The officers—led by a woman named Dawn Lerner—provide food and shelter at the hospital for needy people they find on the road.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Slabtown’: The Real Source of Terror Isn’t Walkers, It’s Rape|Melissa Leon|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hearing the report of our guns, the flock flew towards the wood for shelter.
Snow Shoes and Canoes|William H. G. Kingston
Once more it was shown how weak an arm is artillery against an enemy who lies in shelter.
The Great Boer War|Arthur Conan Doyle
They were just returning to the shelter of the doorway when two shots rang out, but neither was effective.
The Campaign of the Jungle|Edward Stratemeyer
Still keeping under the shelter of the cliff, I carefully surveyed the vessel.
The Swiss Family Robinson|Johann David Wyss
I hoped, moreover, that a full meal of cold rations would compensate to some extent for the lack of warm food and shelter.
South!|Sir Ernest Shackleton
British Dictionary definitions for shelter
shelter
/ (ˈʃɛltə) /
noun
something that provides cover or protection, as from weather or danger; place of refuge
the protection afforded by such a cover; refuge
the state of being sheltered
verb
(tr)to provide with or protect by a shelter
(intr)to take cover, as from rain; find refuge
(tr)to act as a shelter for; take under one's protection