TOP

Definition of refuge noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

refuge

noun
 
 
/ˈrefjuːdʒ/
 
/ˈrefjuːdʒ/
jump to other results
  1.  
    [uncountable] shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.
    • A further 300 people have taken refuge in the US embassy.
    • The region was a place of refuge for outlaws and bandits.
    • refuge from somebody/something They were forced to seek refuge from the fighting.
    • As the situation at home got worse she increasingly took refuge in her work.
    Extra Examples
    • The cave provided refuge from the storm.
    • They found refuge from the bright sun.
    • They sought refuge in the mountain villages.
    • A further 300 people have taken refuge in the embassy.
    Topics Dangerc1, Social issuesc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • safe
    • temporary
    • wildlife
    • …
    verb + refuge
    • take
    • look for
    • seek
    • …
    preposition
    • refuge against
    • refuge from
    phrases
    • a place of refuge
    See full entry
  2.  
    [countable] a place, person or thing that provides shelter or protection for somebody/something
    • The marshes are a wetland refuge for seabirds, waders and wild fowl.
    • refuge from somebody/something He regarded the room as a refuge from the outside world.
    Extra Examples
    • a town that became a refuge for a number of dissident artists
    • They looked to the country as the last refuge of liberty.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • safe
    • temporary
    • wildlife
    • …
    verb + refuge
    • take
    • look for
    • seek
    • …
    preposition
    • refuge against
    • refuge from
    phrases
    • a place of refuge
    See full entry
  3.  
    [countable] a building that provides a temporary home for people in need of shelter or protection from somebody/something
    • The best option for a female victim of domestic abuse is to contact a women's refuge.
    • During the great fire of 1871 the church served as a refuge for people who were homeless.
    Extra Examples
    • Many children consider the facility a welcome refuge.
    • a monk living in a mountain refuge
    • They were hoping to find a safe refuge for the night.
    Topics Houses and homesc1
  4. (also island (both British English), traffic island British and North American English)
     an area in the middle of a road where you can stand and wait for cars to go past until it is safe for you to cross
    5. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, from Latin refugium, from Latin re- ‘back’ + fugere ‘flee’.
See refuge in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee refuge in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: refuge

Other results

All matches

Nearby words

utilize
verb
 
 
From the Word list
OPAL written words
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day