# bunker

/ˈbəŋkɝ/ (US) · /bˈʌŋkɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bunker
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. protective shelter

noun · CEFR B2

a strong building, usually underground, built to protect people from bombs or other attacks.

For teachers: a reinforced, often subterranean, structure designed to provide protection against military projectiles or environmental hazards.

- The soldiers retreated to the concrete bunker when the air raid sirens began to sound.
- The government maintained a deep-level bunker beneath the capital, equipped with enough supplies to sustain the cabinet for several months in an emergency.

### 2. golf hazard

noun · CEFR B2

a hole filled with sand on a golf course that acts as an obstacle.

For teachers: a sand-filled depression on a golf course serving as a hazard to increase the difficulty of play.

- He was frustrated when his ball landed right in the middle of a deep sand bunker.
- The architect designed the course with strategically placed bunkers that penalise players who attempt to take a direct line to the green.

### 3. fuel storage

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a large container or compartment used for storing fuel, especially on a ship.

For teachers: a compartment or tank used for the storage of fuel, such as coal or oil, particularly within a maritime or industrial context.

- The ship had to stop at the port to fill its fuel bunkers before the long journey.
- Engineers inspected the coal bunkers for structural integrity before the vintage steamship was cleared for its commemorative voyage across the Atlantic.

### 4. kitchen worktop

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · British English

a flat surface in a kitchen where you prepare food.

For teachers: a kitchen work surface or countertop.

- She left the grocery bags on the kitchen bunker while she looked for her keys.
- In many traditional Scottish homes, the term bunker is still commonly used to refer to the kitchen work surface.

### 5. to shelter

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to stay in a safe place for a long time, often to avoid a difficult situation.

For teachers: to take shelter or hide in a reinforced structure; frequently used with 'down' to describe a period of isolation or protection.

- The family decided to bunker down in the basement until the storm passed.
- As the scandal broke, the executive chose to bunker down in his private estate, refusing to answer any questions from the press.

Usage: Often used as the phrasal verb 'bunker down'.

### 6. to refuel a ship

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to fill a ship with the fuel it needs for its engines.

For teachers: to supply a vessel with fuel oil or coal; can be used transitively for the vessel or intransitively for the act of taking on fuel.

- The tanker spent the afternoon bunkering in the harbour before heading out to sea.
- The port authority regulated the hours during which vessels could bunker to minimise the risk of accidental spills in the protected bay.

## Examples

- The soldiers stayed in the bunker during the storm.
- During the Cold War, many governments built deep bunkers to ensure that leaders could survive a nuclear strike.
- The golfer's ball landed deep in a greenside bunker, forcing him to play a difficult sand shot to save par and maintain his lead in the tournament.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.