/ əˈsaɪləm; NAmE / noun
1.
(also formal poˌlitical aˈsylum ) [ U ] protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons :
to seek / apply for / be granted asylum
There was a nationwide debate on whether the asylum laws should be changed.
2.
[ C ] ( old use ) a hospital where people who were mentally ill could be cared for, often for a long time
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense place of refuge , especially for criminals): via Latin from Greek asulon refuge, from asulos inviolable, from a- without + sulon right of seizure. Current senses date from the 18th cent.