/ ˈrefjuːdʒ; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] refuge (from sb/sth) shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc. :
A further 300 people have taken refuge in the US embassy.
They were forced to seek refuge from the fighting.
a place of refuge
As the situation at home got worse she increasingly took refuge in her work.
2.
[ C ] refuge (from sb/sth) a place, person or thing that provides shelter or protection for sb/sth :
He regarded the room as a refuge from the outside world.
a wetland refuge for birds
3.
[ C ] a building that provides a temporary home for people in need of shelter or protection from sb/sth :
a women's refuge
a refuge for the homeless
4.
( BrE ) = traffic island
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , from Latin refugium , from Latin re- back + fugere flee.