—n.
1 anything serving as a shield or protection from danger, bad weather, etc.
2 a a place of refuge provided esp. for the homeless etc. b US an animal sanctuary.
3 a shielded condition; protection (took shelter under a tree).
—v.
1 tr. act or serve as shelter to; protect; conceal; defend (sheltered them from the storm; had a sheltered upbringing).
2 intr. & refl. find refuge; take cover (sheltered under a tree; sheltered themselves behind the wall).
Phrases and idioms:
shelter-belt a line of trees etc. planted to protect crops from the wind.
Derivatives:
shelterer n. shelterless adj.
Etymology: 16th c.: perh. f. obs. sheltron phalanx f. OE scieldtruma (as SHIELD, truma troop)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.