Shelter

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: shel=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

Shelter, n. [Cf. OE. scheltrun, shiltroun, schelltrome, scheldtrome, a guard, squadron, AS. scildtruma a troop of men with shields; scild shield + truma a band of men. See Shield, n.].

•  That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance; a protection; a screen.  [1913 Webster]

  "The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid,
  From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade."  [1913 Webster]
•  One who protects; a guardian; a defender.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thou [God] hast been a shelter for me."  [1913 Webster]
•  The state of being covered and protected; protection; security.  [1913 Webster]

  "Who into shelter takes their tender bloom."  [1913 Webster]

Shelter tent,a small tent made of pieces of cotton duck arranged to button together. In field service the soldiers carry the pieces.

Syn. -- Asylum; refuge; retreat; covert; sanctuary; protection; defense; security.

Shelter, v. t. 

•  To be a shelter for; to provide with a shelter; to cover from injury or annoyance; to shield; to protect.  [1913 Webster]

  "Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head."  [1913 Webster]

  "You have no convents . . . in which such persons may be received and sheltered."  [1913 Webster]
•  To screen or cover from notice; to disguise.  [1913 Webster]

  "In vain I strove to cheek my growing flame,
  Or shelter passion under friendship's name."  [1913 Webster]
•  To betake to cover, or to a safe place; -- used reflexively.  [1913 Webster]

  "They sheltered themselves under a rock."  [1913 Webster]

Shelter, v. i. 

 To take shelter.  [1913 Webster]
"There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,
Shelters in cool."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Shelter, n. & v.
--n.
1 anything serving as a shield or protection from danger, bad weather, etc.
2 a a place of refuge provided esp. for the homeless etc. b US an animal sanctuary.
3 a shielded condition; protection (took shelter under a tree).
--v.
1 tr. act or serve as shelter to; protect; conceal; defend (sheltered them from the storm; had a sheltered upbringing).
2 intr. & refl. find refuge; take cover (sheltered under a tree; sheltered themselves behind the wall).

Idiom

shelter-belt a line of trees etc. planted to protect crops from the wind.

Derivative

shelterer n. shelterless adj.

Etymology

16th c.: perh. f. obs. sheltron phalanx f. OE scieldtruma (as SHIELD, truma troop)

THESAURUS

Shelter

abri, accommodation, accommodations, air-raid shelter, arm, armor, asylum, bed, berth, billet, blanket, bless, bomb shelter, bombproof, bunk, bunker, cave, chamber, champion, cloak, coat, compass about, concealment, copyright, cover, coverage, covering, covert, coverture, cowl, cowling, curtain, cushion, cyclone cellar, defend, defense, den, diggings, digs, domicile, domiciliate, drape, drapery, dugout, dwelling, earth, ensure, eye, fallout shelter, fence, fend, foxhole, funk hole, guarantee, guard, guise, habitation, hanging, harbor, harborage, haven, hermitage, hide, hideaway, hideout, hole up, home, hood, house, housing, insure, keep, keep from harm, lay low, lee, lie low, living quarters, lodge, lodging, lodgings, lodgment, make safe, mantle, mask, nestle, pall, patent, police, port, preservation, protect, protection, protective custody, put up, quarter, quarters, refuge, register, retirement, retreat, ride shotgun for, roof, room, rooms, roost, safeguard, safekeeping, safety, safety zone, sanctuary, screen, secure, security, shade, shadow, shield, shroud, sleeping place, stable, storm cave, storm cellar, tower, trench, umbrella, underwrite, veil, vestment, watchful eye

ROGET THESAURUS

Shelter

Safety

VB be safe, keep one's head above water, tide over, save one's bacon, ride out the storm, weather the storm, light upon one's feet, land on one's feet, bear a charmed life, escape, make safe, render safe Adj, protect, take care of, preserve, cover, screen, shelter, shroud, flank, ward, guard, secure, entrench, intrench, fence round, house, nestle, ensconce, take charge of, escort, convoy, garrison, watch, mount guard, patrol, make assurance doubly sure, take up a loose thread, take precautions, double reef topsails, seek safety, take shelter, find shelter.

N safety, security, surety, impregnability, invulnerability, invulnerableness, danger past, danger over, storm blown over, coast clear, escape, means of escape, blow valve, safety valve, release valve, sniffing valve, safeguard, palladium, guardianship, wardship, wardenship, tutelage, custody, safekeeping, preservation, protection, auspices, safe-conduct, escort, convoy, guard, shield, guardian angel, tutelary god, tutelary deity, tutelary saint, genius loci, protector, guardian, warden, warder, preserver, custodian, duenna, chaperon, third person, watchdog, bandog, Cerberus, watchman, patrolman, policeman, cop, dick, fuzz, smokey, peeler, zarp, sentinel, sentry, scout, garrison, guardship, refuge &c, anchor, precaution, quarantine, cordon sanitaire, confidence, protect, take care of, preserve, cover, screen, shelter, shroud, flank, ward, guard, secure, entrench, intrench, fence round, house, nestle, ensconce, take charge of, escort, convoy, garrison, watch, mount guard, patrol, make assurance doubly sure, take up a loose thread, take precautions, double reef topsails, seek safety, take shelter, find shelter, Adj, safe, secure, sure, in safety, in security, on the safe side, under the shield of, under the shade of, under the wing of, under the shadow of one's wing, under cover, under lock and key, out of danger, out of the woods, out of the meshes, out of harm's way, unharmed, unscathed, on sure ground, at anchor, high and dry, above water, unthreatened, unmolested, protected, cavendo tutus, panoplied, snug, seaworthy, weatherproof, waterproof, fireproof, defensible, tenable, proof against, invulnerable, unassailable, unattackable, impenetrable, impregnable, imperdible, inexpugnable, Achillean, safe and sound, scathless, unhazarded, not dangerous, unthreatening, harmless, friendly (cooperative), protecting, protective, guardian, tutelary, preservative, trustworthy, ex abundanti cautela, with impunity, all's well, salva res est, suave mari magno, a couvert, e terra alterius spectare laborem, Dieu vous garde.

Refuge

N refuge, sanctuary, retreat, fastness, acropolis, keep, last resort, ward, prison, asylum, ark, home, refuge for the destitute, almshouse, hiding place, sanctum sanctorum, roadstead, anchorage, breakwater, mole, port, haven, harbor, harbor of refuge, seaport, pier, jetty, embankment, quay, covert, cover, shelter, screen, lee wall, wing, shield, umbrella, barrier, dashboard, dasher, wall, fort, anchor, kedge, grapnel, grappling iron, sheet anchor, killick, mainstay, support, cheek, ballast, jury mast, vent-peg, safety valve, blow-off valve, safety lamp, lightning rod, lightning conductor, safety belt, airbag, seat belt, antilock brakes, antiskid tires, snow tires, means of escape, lifeboat, lifejacket, life buoy, swimming belt, cork jacket, parachute, plank, steppingstone, emergency landing, safeguard, any port in a storm, bibere venenum in auro, valet anchora virtus.