shelter
n. C / Un. a place that protects you from bad weather or danger. It can be a building, a tent, or even a natural spot like a cave.
n. a structure or natural feature providing protection from environmental hazards or physical danger. Often used to describe temporary accommodation for people in need.
We used the large tree as a shelter from the rain.
The hikers built a temporary shelter using branches and a tarp when the storm began.
The city opened several emergency shelters to provide the homeless population with warmth and safety during the record-breaking cold snap.
From Middle English sheltron, sheldtrume (“roof or wall formed by locked shields”), from Old English sċildtruma, sċyldtruma (“a phalanx, company (of troops), a tortoise, a covering, shed, shelter”, literally “shield-troop”), from sċyld, sċield (“shield”) + truma (“a troop of soldiers”). Cognate with Scots schilthrum, schiltrum. More at shield, and Old English trymman (“to strengthen”), from trum (“strong, firm”) at trim. Doublet of sheltron (a kind of military formation), which is the more conservative of the two.
Functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept of protection ('to seek shelter'); functions as a countable noun when referring to a specific building or structure.