shelter

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [U] the fact of having a place to live or stay, considered as a basic human need: Human beings need food, clothing and shelter. * They were anxious to find shelter for the night. 2 [U] ~ (from sth) protection from rain, danger or attack: to take shelter from the rain / wind / weather * The fox was running for the shelter of the trees. * People were desperately seeking shelter from the gunfire. 3 [C] (often in compounds) a structure built to give protection, especially from the weather or from attack: They built a rough shelter from old pieces of wood and cardboard. * an air-raid shelter seealsoBUSSHELTER 4 [C] a building, usually owned by a charity, that provides a place to stay for people without a home, or protection for people or animals who have been badly treated: a night shelter for the homeless * an animal shelter seealsoHOSTEL verb 1 [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) to give sb/sth a place where they are protected from the weather or from danger; to protect sb/sth: Trees shelter the house from the wind. * helping the poor and sheltering the homeless * Perhaps I sheltered my daughter too much (= protected her too much from unpleasant or difficult experiences). 2 [V] ~ (from sth) to stay in a place that protects you from the weather or from danger: We sheltered from the rain in a doorway.