refuge
refuge Lexical Profile
refuge Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.
"The hikers sought refuge from the sudden mountain blizzard inside an old stone cabin."
A place, institution, or protected area that provides shelter, safety, or conservation, such as a wildlife reserve or a facility for people in distress.
"The coastal wetlands serve as an essential winter refuge for thousands of migratory waterfowl."
Something to which one turns for comfort, relief, or escape when facing difficulty.
"During years of political upheaval, the composer found refuge in his music."
• verb
To give shelter to someone or to take shelter from danger or trouble (now rare).
"The displaced villagers refuged in the mountain monastery until the flooding subsided."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'refuge' (a place or state of shelter) with 'refugee' (a person who flees their home or country to seek safety).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'refuge', from Latin 'refugium' ('a taking refuge, a place to flee back to'), derived from 're-' ('back') and 'fugere' ('to flee').