refuge

Universal Words noun 1 [U] ~ (from sb/sth) shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc: A further 300 people have taken refuge in the US embassy. * They were forced to seek refuge from the fighting. * a place of refuge * As the situation at home got worse she increasingly took refuge in her work. 2 [C] ~ (from sb/sth) a place, person or thing that provides shelter or protection for sb/sth: He regarded the room as a refuge from the outside world. * a wetland refuge for birds, waders and wild fowl 3 [C] a building that provides a temporary home for people in need of shelter or protection from sb/sth: a women's refuge * a refuge for the homeless 4 (BrE) = TRAFFICISLAND