shelter
noun
shel·ter
| \ ˈshel-tər
\
\
Definition of shelter
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: something that covers or affords protection
a bomb shelter
b
: an establishment providing food and shelter (as to the homeless)
c
: an establishment that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals
2
: a position or the state of being covered and protected
took shelter
shelter
verb
sheltered;
sheltering\ ˈshel-t(ə-)riŋ
\
\
Definition of shelter (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to constitute or provide a shelter for : protect
has led a sheltered life
2
: to place under shelter or protection
sheltered himself in a mountain cave
3
: to protect (income) from taxation
: to take shelter
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Other Words from shelter
Noun
shelterless
\ ˈshel-tər-ləs
\
adjective
\
adjective
Verb
shelterer
\ ˈshel-tər-ər
\
noun
\
noun
Synonyms for shelter
Synonyms: Noun
asylum, bolt-hole [chiefly British], harbor, harborage, haven, refuge, retreat, sanctuary, sanctum
Synonyms: Verb
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Examples of shelter in a Sentence
Noun
We made a shelter from branches. a shelter for battered women The organization provides food and shelter for homeless people. The crowd ran for shelter when the rain started. They sought shelter from the storm.Verb
A cave sheltered the climbers during the storm. They sheltered in a cave while they waited for the storm to pass.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The shelter provides vaccinations, spay/neuter services and veterinarian care. — Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, "Former San Antonio mayor’s plans for protecting animals could be ‘game changer’," 3 Sep. 2019 Special needs shelters are available to people who have pre-registered. — Anthony Man, sun-sentinel.com, "If Hurricane Dorian stays on current path, Fort Lauderdale airport expects to reopen at noon Tuesday," 2 Sep. 2019 The complaint says Jensen sideswiped a Metro Transit bus and then backed into the bus before slowly veering onto the curb and ramming into the bus shelter at Lyndale and Broadway avenues. — Jeff Baenen, Twin Cities, "Criminal charges at issue for driver, 83, who crashed into Minneapolis bus shelter," 30 Aug. 2019 Inside the shelter hangs a painting of an idyllic house nestled in tranquil woodland. — Madeline Roache / Puhoi, Time, "'You’re Not a Person if You Don’t Drink.' How This Tiny European Country Developed the World's Worst Drinking Problem," 29 Aug. 2019 The shelter located in the River North neighborhood has been in operation since 1993 and currently serves more than 400 homeless men. — Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post, "Denver agrees to pay $10.5 million to buy Salvation Army homeless shelter," 23 Aug. 2019 Until then, the shelter is asking for the public's help in fostering the animals and funding their medical care. — Rebecca Hennes, Houston Chronicle, "Nearly 50 dogs rescued from alleged hoarder's house in Matagorda County," 21 Aug. 2019 The official evacuation shelter is Kelseyville High School. — Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, "Wildfire forces evacuation of homes on Clear…," 9 Aug. 2019 Homelessness in Indy: For transgender homeless, shelters can be risky. — Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, "'Queer Eye' style guru Carson Kressley talks LGBT media, raising funds for HIV/AIDS outreach in Indy," 7 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The University of Central Florida, where classes for the fall semester just started on Monday, is watching the path of the storm but hasn’t yet announced any plans for evacuation or sheltering in place. — David Harris, orlandosentinel.com, "Powerful Hurricane Dorian prompts Florida state of emergency as storm roars through U.S. Virgin Islands," 28 Aug. 2019 To be sure, sheltering in place also posed great risks. — Kathryn Hyer, The Conversation, "Hurricane evacuation of nursing home residents still an unsolved challenge," 28 Aug. 2019 Typically warnings are given before evacuation orders but a third option may be to shelter in place, Scales said. — Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Cal Fire briefs planners on fire preparedness efforts," 18 July 2019 New Orleans residents in areas protected by levees were ordered to shelter in place after 8 p.m Friday. — Jesus Jimenez, Dallas News, "Gov. Greg Abbott offers state resources to Louisiana as Tropical Storm Barry nears landfall," 12 July 2019 Normally, the young fish would respond to the smell of other fishes' alarm cues by dropping to shelter in the gravel. — Elizabeth Preston, Science | AAAS, "A growing sensory smog threatens the ability of fish to communicate, navigate, and survive," 20 June 2019 Of all the organelles to be found inside eukaryotic cells, the DNA-sheltering nuclei might be the best-known, but the mitochondria are surely not far behind. — Quanta Magazine, "Biologists Discover Unknown Powers in Mighty Mitochondria," 18 Mar. 2019 Civilians and opposition activists interviewed in Idlib in recent weeks said many people were sheltering in open fields or under trees, often without access to toilets. — Hwaida Saad, BostonGlobe.com, "Syrian forces move into strategic town, tightening grip on rebels," 20 Aug. 2019 Millett creates work inspired by the nature of quilts — in which disparate pieces come together to form a cohesive, sheltering whole. — Los Angeles Times, "Datebook: How Duke Ellington inspired an art show about black and Latino experience," 15 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shelter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for shelter
shelter
noun
English Language Learners Definition of shelter
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a structure that covers or protects people or things
: a place that provides food and protection for people or animals that need assistance
: a place to live
shelter
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of shelter (Entry 2 of 2)
: to protect (someone) from danger, bad weather, etc. : to provide shelter for (someone)
: to be in a place that provides protection from danger, bad weather, etc. : to take shelter