Definition of SHELTER

shelter

Plural: shelters

Noun

  • a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
  • protective covering that provides protection from the weather
  • the condition of being protected
  • a way of organizing business to reduce the taxes it must pay on current earnings
  • temporary housing for homeless or displaced persons
  • Somewhere one can find protection.
  • 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).
  • Somewhere one can find protection.
  • A bare-bones above-ground structure meant to provide temporary cover from the elements; usually small and with no door to close.
  • Somewhere one can find protection.
  • A place for protection from deadly conditions outside, including military assault; usually partly or fully underground.
  • Somewhere one can find protection.
  • A refuge, sanctuary, or (by metonymy) institution that provides temporary housing or a place to sleep for those in need or in danger.
  • Somewhere one can find protection.
  • 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

  • provide shelter for
    • "After the earthquake, the government could not provide shelter for the thousands of homeless people"
  • invest (money) so that it is not taxable
  • To provide cover from damage or harassment; to shield; to protect.
  • To take cover.

Examples

  • "air-raid shelter"
  • "Along with air, water, and food, shelter is often recognized as a human necessity."
  • "bus shelter"
  • "During the rainstorm, we sheltered under a tree."
  • "fallout shelter"
  • "homeless shelter"
  • "I wish more people would look for pets at the shelter before turning to breeders!"
  • "kill shelter"
  • "rock shelter"
  • "The band of explorers found a shelter behind the waterfall, which they rested at for three days."
  • "tornado shelter"
  • "waiting shelter"
  • "women's shelter"

Origin / 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 (“strong, firm”) at trim.
Doublet of sheltron (a kind of military formation), which is the more conservative of the two.

Synonyms

home, protection, tax shelter

Scrabble Score: 10

shelter is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
shelter is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
shelter is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

shelter is a valid Words With Friends word