refugeref‧uge /ˈrefjuːdʒ/ ●○○ noun 
During the frequent air-raids, people took refuge in their cellars.2[countable] a place that provides shelter, or protection from danger: a wildlife refugerefuge from A huge oak tree provided a refuge from the storm.refuge for a refuge for battered wives
WORD ORIGINrefuge
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin refugium, from refugere ‘to run away’, from fugere; ➔ FUGITIVE2EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a wildlife refuge
- During the flooding, people took refuge in the hills.
- The Allies are being asked to provide more refuges for those fleeing the fighting.
- The basement provided us with a refuge from the fighting.
- Thousands of families came here seeking refuge from the civil war.
- Zurich's importance as a business centre grew, as did its reputation as a place of refuge.
- Hunters already have more access to the refuge than any other recreational group, Evans says.
- In the moonlight it appeared more like a great slab of concrete than a refuge for ducks.
- Instead of picking them up, she moved behind the pedestal as if taking refuge.
- Jacqueline became pregnant, her flat was repossessed, she sought refuge from Tommy's violence.
- London is, or was, a great refuge for hacks.
- Many urban homeless were seeking refuge in subway stations and bus depots.
- Sorcerer took refuge behind the mirrors.
- Then she turned and flew on winged feet up the narrow stair to take refuge in her garret room.
Longman Language Activatorto protect someone by providing a place where they are safe from danger
to provide a place where someone is protected, for example from danger or from the weather: · Police are appealing to anyone who may be sheltering the wanted man to come forward.shelter somebody from something: · They risked their own lives sheltering Jews from the Nazis.· An umbrella sheltered them from the sun.
to protect someone who is in danger or being hunted by someone who wants to harm them, by giving them a safe place to stay: · The British government has been accused of giving shelter to known war criminals.· During the war, she gave refuge and arms to local resistance groups.
protection given to someone by a government because they have escaped from fighting or political trouble in their own country: · The government described them as economic refugees who have no legal claim to asylum.seek asylum (=ask for asylum): · Gypsies from Eastern Europe have sought asylum in Britain.grant somebody asylum (=give it to them officially): · Cubans who reach the U.S. are usually granted asylum.political asylum: · They have sought political asylum in the United States.
a safe place · We want the streets to be safe for our children.in a safe place · Keep the receipt in a safe place.from/at a safe distance (=far enough away from something dangerous) · Mothers held on to their children tightly, letting them watch the fireworks from a safe distance.(at) a safe distance from something · Hiding in the hedge a safe distance from the truck, she waited for the man to appear.
if someone or something is out of harm's way , they are in a place where they cannot be hurt or damaged: · She put the glass vases on the top shelf, out of harm's way.well out of harm's way: · The device sends the fish to the bottom of the pond, well out of harm's way.
a place where you are safe from danger: reach safety: · By the time the men reached safety, they were exhausted and half starved.the safety of something: · She rushed back to the safety of her own house.carry/lead/take somebody to safety: · The firefighters carried the children to safety.· A film cameraman was airlifted to safety yesterday after being trapped inside a volcano for two days.
a place where you can go in order to escape from a dangerous or unpleasant situation: refuge from: · The basement provided us with a refuge from the fighting.refuge for: · The Allies are being asked to provide more refuges for those fleeing the fighting.place of refuge: · Zurich's importance as a business centre grew, as did its reputation as a place of refuge.take refuge (=go somewhere that is safe): · During the flooding, people took refuge in the hills.seek refuge from something (=try to find a safe place, to escape from a dangerous situation): · Thousands of families came here seeking refuge from the civil war.
a peaceful place where people go in order to escape from danger or suffering, and where they feel very safe: haven for: · She finally found a place to escape to, a small haven for herself and her daughter.· The church is a haven of peace in one of London's busiest areas.safe haven (=a safe place): · The massacre took place in what was supposed to be a UN safe haven.
a peaceful place that is safe and provides protection, especially for people who are in danger: · I thought of my bedroom as a sanctuary.· The Church should be a sanctuary for the oppressed.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY During the frequent air-raids, people took refuge in their cellars. a wildlife refugeCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[uncountable] shelter or protection from someone or somethingtake/seek refuge (in something) During the frequent air-raids, people took refuge in their cellars. a wildlife refuge (=somewhere safe to go or hide)· If ever you need a place of refuge, come to us.
(=try to find somewhere safe)· They sought refuge inside the castle.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Manufacturers, it is argued, sought refuge in West Ham from East London vestries determined to sanitise their parishes.
NOUN· The wildlife refuge may contain as much as three billion barrels.· The island of Angistri went up in flames within minutes of being declared a wildlife refuge.· The basis for the great national forest, park, monument, and wildlife refuge systems of the present had been laid.
VERB· They became the refuge of the vagabond and beggars sought them out as natural almshouses.· Her room becomes a refuge for her and her close friends.
· If it all proves too much, visitors may find refuge in a seminar on stress control.· But she found that the only refuge for her was the same refuge that existed in her much smaller house.· How did the caribou first find their winter refuge?· But she finds refuge with another man, ironically a local braggart photographer who is not so much successful as handy.· In a divided group, a few individuals may find a safe refuge in which to await a favourable change.· Itzhak Bentov envisages the example of a cleft in a rock where animals can find refuge.· Miraculously, the candle did not blow out in the wet wind, until they had found a refuge.
· Now local businesses are being asked to offer refuge.· They often offer a place of refuge.
· A partner can also provide a refuge and a sense of worth beyond work.· An unkempt coat will provide a refuge for parasites, and if soiled with faecal matter is likely to attract flies.· Its roots provide refuge for fish and fry.· It provides refuge for fish and fry in its trailing roots.· The crevices at the sides of chairs provide an ideal refuge for fleas at all stages in their lifecycle.
· It is certainly reasonable to suppose that later assertions are accurate and that they sought refuge in exile.· And far inferior is mere action to action performed with this evenness of mind. Seek refuge in this evenness.· He sought refuge in vague and ambiguous promises.· In my full view the judge went out, opened the gate and beckoned to him politely to enter and seek refuge.· Smaller gulls are more likely to seek refuge on land.· Nearby is near Runaway Ghaut, a rugged ravine where slaves sought refuge.· The region around Chimoio is swollen by 400,000 people who sought refuge from the civil war.· The two seek refuge on an uninhabited island.
· Joshua took refuge within the bookshop.· He shot the smoke, which shot back, then he took refuge behind a pile of stones.· Then she turned and flew on winged feet up the narrow stair to take refuge in her garret room.· I took refuge in the bookstore on the square and found Howl, which was unknown in Arizona at the time.· For those who have taken refuge in full-blown paranoia, there is another, more sinister, possibility.· A self-conscious orphan, she took emotional refuge in social form and social skills.· Yet it hesitates, and takes refuge in nit-picking.· But no outside help materialized and after a few days he prudently took refuge across the border in Milan.
During the frequent air-raids, people took refuge in their cellars.2[countable] a place that provides shelter, or protection from danger: a wildlife refugerefuge from A huge oak tree provided a refuge from the storm.refuge for a refuge for battered wives