shelter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A place that gives protection from bad weather or danger.

   The hikers found shelter behind a large rock during the storm.

2. 2
   noun

   Protection or safety, especially from weather or harm.

   Along with food and water, shelter is a basic human need.

3. 3
   verb

   To protect someone or something from danger or bad weather.

   The thick walls sheltered the village from the cold wind.

4. 4
   verb

   To take cover from bad weather or danger.

   During the rainstorm, we sheltered under a tree.

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.

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