- [uncountable] the fact of having a place to live or stay, considered as a basic human need
- Human beings need food, clothing and shelter.
- without shelter Thousands of people are without shelter following the wildfires.
Extra Examples- The nuns won't refuse you shelter.
- They were anxious to find shelter for the night.
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- [uncountable] protection from rain, danger, or attack
- shelter from something to take shelter from the storm
- People were desperately seeking shelter from the gunfire.
- The sand dunes provided shelter from the wind.
- shelter of something The fox was running for the shelter of the trees.
Extra Examples- She was standing in the shelter of the doorway.
- The great elm trees gave shelter from the wind.
- We had to leave the shelter of the trees.
- He took shelter from the rain under a bridge.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + shelter- afford (somebody)
- give (somebody)
- offer (somebody)
- …
- in the shelter of
- under the shelter of
- shelter from
- …
- shelter for the night
- [countable] (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.
- He helped construct temporary shelters in 10 villages before the rains came.
- an air-raid shelter
- a bomb shelter
- Pupils have been sent home and schools have been turned into emergency shelters.
- shelter for somebody/something a shelter for cattle
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- makeshift
- temporary
- stone
- …
- build
- construct
- erect
- …
- in a/the shelter
- shelter for
- [countable] 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 homeless people
- an animal shelter
Extra ExamplesTopics Houses and homesb2, Social issuesb2- She works as a volunteer at a homeless shelter.
- You'll be safer in the shelter.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- makeshift
- temporary
- stone
- …
- build
- construct
- erect
- …
- in a/the shelter
- shelter for
Word Originlate 16th cent.: perhaps an alteration of sheld, an old spelling of shield, + -ure.
Check pronunciation:
shelter