Shelter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sheltered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sheltering.]
1. To be a shelter for; to provide with a shelter; to cover from injury or annoyance; to shield; to protect. Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head. Dryden. You have no convents . . . in which such persons may be received and sheltered. Southey.
2. To screen or cover from notice; to disguise. In vain I strove to cheek my growing flame, Or shelter passion under friendship's name. Prior.
3. To betake to cover, or to a safe place; -- used reflexively. They sheltered themselves under a rock. Abp. Abbot.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Shelter, n.
1. That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance; a protection; a screen. The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid, From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade. Pope.
2. One who protects; a guardian; a defender. Thou [God] hast been a shelter for me. Ps. lxi. 3.
3. The state of being covered and protected; protection; security. Who into shelter takes their tender bloom. Young. Shelter tent,a small tent made of pieces of cotton duck arranged to button together. In field service the soldiers carry the pieces.
Syn. -- Asylum; refuge; retreat; covert; sanctuary; protection; defense; security.
Shelter, v. i.
To take shelter. There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, Shelters in cool. Milton.
Shades of meaning
Anything is covered over which something is completely extended; a vessel is covered with a lid; the head is covered with a hat. That which covers may also defend or protect; thus, troops interposed between some portion of their own army and the enemy are often called a covering party. To shelter is to cover so as to protect from injury or annoyance; as, the roof shelters from the storm; woods shelter from the heat. To defend (L. defendere, to strike away) implies the actual, protect (L. protegere, to cover before) implies the possible use of force or resisting power; guard implies sustained vigilance with readiness for conflict; we defend a person or thing against actual attack; we guard or protect against possible assault or injury. A powerful person may protect one who is weak by simply declaring himself his friend; he defends him by some form of active championship. An inanimate object may protect, as a garment from cold; defend is used but rarely, and by somewhat violent metaphor, in such connection. Protect is more complete than guard or defend; an object may be faithfully guarded or bravely defended in vain, but that which is protected is secure. To shield is to interpose something over or before that which is assailed, so as to save from harm, and has a comparatively passive sense; one may guard another by standing armed at his side, defend him by fighting for him, or shield him from a missile or a blow by interposing his own person. Harbor is generally used in an unfavorable sense; confederates or sympathizers harbor a criminal; a person harbors evil thoughts or designs. See cherish. Compare synonyms for hide; defense.
Prepositions
Shelter under a roof from the storm; in the fortress, behind or within the walls, from attack.