shelter
//ˈʃɛltə//
Forms
- Plural
- shelters
- present (v1)
- shelter
- past (v2)
- sheltered
- past participle (v3)
- sheltered
- present participle
- sheltering
- 3rd person singular
- shelters
Definitions
1.Somewhere one can find protection.
- I wish more people would look for pets at the shelter before turning to breeders!
- The band of explorers found a shelter behind the waterfall, which they rested at for three days.
2.That which provides protection or cover.
- Along with air, water, and food, shelter is often recognized as a human necessity.
3.The state of being protected or shielded.
1.To provide cover from damage or harassment; to shield; to protect.
- Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head.
- You have no convents […] in which such persons may be received and sheltered.
2.To take cover.
- During the rainstorm, we sheltered under a tree.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3090
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Word family
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.