shelter
English · Thesaurus
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shelter
- /ˈʃɛltə/ UK
- /ˈʃɛltɚ/ Canada, US
- /ˈʃeltə/ Australia, New Zealand
- [ˈʃeltə] ~ [ˈʃe̞ltə] Australia
- [ˈʃe̝ltə] ~ [ˈʃɪltə] New Zealand
- /ˈʃɛltəɾ/ Scotland
Sounds like Shelta (non-rhotic) · Rhymes with -ɛltə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
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.
noun shelters
- 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). The band of explorers found a shelter behind the waterfall, which they rested at for three days.
- A bare-bones above-ground structure meant to provide temporary cover from the elements; usually small and with no door to close. The detective kept them in view. He made his way casually along the inside of the shelter until he reached an open scuttle close to where the two men were standing talking. Eavesdropping was not a thing Larard would have practised from choice, but there were times when, in the public interest, he ha
- A place for protection from deadly conditions outside, including military assault; usually partly or fully underground. tornado shelter
-
A refuge, sanctuary, or (by metonymy) institution that provides temporary housing or a place to sleep for those in need or in danger.
(in compounds)
Similar: home
-
An animal shelter.
I wish more people would look for pets at the shelter before turning to breeders!
Similar: home
- That which provides protection or cover. Along with air, water, and food, shelter is often recognized as a human necessity.
- The state of being protected or shielded.
verb shelters · sheltering · sheltered
-
To provide cover from damage or harassment; to shield; to protect.
Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head.
Similar: harbor
- To take cover. During the rainstorm, we sheltered under a tree.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: protection, tax shelter, bield, refuge, sanctuary, asylum, housing, lodging, house, resort, lodgings, hostel, dwelling, accommodation, quarters, lodge
Translations
Every language
noun a refuge or other protection
| Español | abrigo, amparo, abrigadero, abrigaño, cobijo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 피난처 pinancheo, 대피소 daepiso |
| 日本語 | 避難所 hinanjo |
| 中文 | 棲身之地 /栖身之地 qīshēn zhīdì, 住處 /住处 zhùchù, 庇護 /庇护 bìhù, 掩蔽 yǎnbì |
| हिन्दी | शरण śaraṇ, शरणालय śarṇālay, पनाह panāh, पनाहगाह panāhgāh, बसेरा baserā |
| Português | refúgio, abrigo, amparo, asilo |
| Français | abri, refuge |
| Deutsch | Zuflucht, Obdach, Zufluchtsort, Schutzraum |
| Italiano | rifugio, riparo |
| Ελληνικά | καταφύγιο katafýgio |
| Română | adăpost |
| Русский | убе́жище ubéžišče, укры́тие ukrýtije, прию́т prijút, прибе́жище pribéžišče, приста́нище pristánišče |
| Tiếng Việt | chỗ che, chỗ ẩn, chỗ núp |
| العربية | مَلَاذ malāḏ, مَخْلَص maḵlaṣ |
| עברית | מִקְלָט miklát, מַחֲסֶה maẖasé |
noun institution
| Español | albergue |
|---|---|
| Português | abrigo, refúgio |
| Français | refuge |
| Ελληνικά | άσυλο ásylo, στέγη stégi |
| Русский | прию́т prijút, убе́жище ubéžišče, ночле́жка nočléžka, ше́лтер šéltɛr |
verb transitive, to provide cover
| Español | cobijar, albergar, guarecer |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 감싸다 gamssada |
| हिन्दी | पनाह देना panāh denā, शरण देना śaraṇ denā |
| Português | proteger, refugiar |
| Français | abriter |
| Italiano | dare rifugio |
| Ελληνικά | προστατεύω prostatévo, προσφέρω καταφύγιο prosféro katafýgio |
| Русский | приюти́ть prijutítʹ, укрыва́ть ukryvátʹ, укры́ть ukrýtʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | che chở, che, bảo vệ |
verb intransitive, to take cover
| Español | refugiarse, guarecerse |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 피하다 pihada |
| Português | proteger-se, refugiar-se |
| Français | s'abriter |
| Italiano | rifugiarsi, ripararsi |
| Русский | укрыва́ться ukryvátʹsja, укры́ться ukrýtʹsja |
| Tiếng Việt | trú ẩn, trú, ẩn, núp, nấp, trốn |
Talk about this word "shelter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/shelter. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. shelter. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/shelter "shelter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/shelter.Cite this
@misc{shelter_2026,
title = {shelter},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/shelter},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
