shelter
Pronunciation: /ˈʃɛltə/
The English word “shelter” has 9 meanings listed here.
noun
- A place where a person or animal may find protection from the elements (especially rain, storms, or cold) sometimes as a place to sleep (such as a cave).
- A bare-bones above-ground structure meant to provide temporary cover from the elements; usually small and with no door to close.
- A place for protection from deadly conditions outside, including military assault; usually partly or fully underground.
- A refuge, sanctuary, or (by metonymy) institution that provides temporary housing or a place to sleep for those in need or in danger.
- An animal shelter.
- That which provides protection or cover.
- The state of being protected or shielded.
verb
Etymology
From Middle English sheltron, sheldtrume (“roof or wall formed by locked shields”), from Old English sċildtruma, sċyldtruma (“a phalanx, company (of troops), a tortoise, a covering, shed, shelter”, literally “shield-troop”), from sċyld, sċield (“shield”) + truma (“a troop of soldiers”). Cognate with Scots schilthrum, schiltrum. More at shield, and Old English trymman (“to strengthen”), from trum…
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.