26984 words

shelter

11 definitions • 18 examples
1
(a building designed to give) protection from bad weather, danger, or attack:

Examples:

an air-raid shelter
They opened a shelter to provide temporary housing for the city's homeless.
give/provide shelter from The trees gave/provided some shelter from the rain.
2
to protect yourself from bad weather, danger, or attack:

Examples:

find/take shelter in We took shelter for the night in an abandoned house.
3
to protect yourself, or another person or thing, from bad weather, danger, or attack:

Examples:

We were caught in a thunderstorm, without anywhere to shelter.
shelter from A group of us were sheltering from the rain under the trees.
4
to give someone a secret hiding place so that they will not be caught by the army, police, etc.:

Examples:

shelter someone from something Local people risked their own lives to shelter resistance fighters from the army.
5
to remain in the building that you are in during an emergency such as an extreme weather event or a shooting:

Examples:

In most chemical emergencies people are instructed to shelter in place, closing windows and turning off air conditioners to keep out toxic fumes.
6
to stay at home and only leave when you have to, for example to buy food, especially during an epidemic (= the appearance of a disease in a large number of people at the same time):

Examples:

Millions of Californians were told to shelter in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
7
If you shelter income, you legally avoid paying taxes on it:

Examples:

8
something that gives protection, such as a building or tent, or the protection provided:

Examples:

[ C ] We took the stray dog to an animal shelter.
[ U ] The wall gave us some shelter from the wind.
[ U ] The program offers shelter to runaway teens.
9
to protect yourself, or another person or thing, from bad weather, danger, or attack:

Examples:

[ T ] The city feeds, clothes, and shelters the orphans.
[ I ] We were caught in a thunderstorm and sheltered in a cave.
10
if you shelter income, you find a legal way to avoid paying tax on it:

Examples:

shelter savings/assets
shelter sth from sb/sth The company needs to act now to shelter its assets from the taxman.
11
a way to legally avoid paying tax:

Examples:

shelter from sth These investments continue to offer shelter from capital gains tax.

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