n. & v.
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). shelter-belt a line of trees etc. planted to protect crops from the wind. shelterer n. shelterless adj.
[ 16th c.: perh. f. obs. sheltron phalanx f. OE scieldtruma (as SHIELD, truma troop) ]