shelter

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   invest money so that it is not taxable

   They sheltered their profits in an offshore bank.

2. 2
   verb

   provide shelter for

   After the earthquake, the government could not provide shelter for the thousands of homeless people

3. 3
   noun

   Somewhere one can find protection.

   The band of explorers found a shelter behind the waterfall, which they rested at for three days.

4. 4
   noun

   That which provides protection or cover.

   Along with air, water, and food, shelter is often recognized as a human necessity.

5. 5
   verb

   To provide cover from damage or harassment; to shield; to protect.

   Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head.

6. 6
   verb

   To take cover.

   During the rainstorm, we sheltered under a tree.

7. 7
   noun

   a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

8. 8
   noun

   protective covering that provides protection from the weather

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.