REFUGE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does refuge mean? 

• REFUGE (noun)
  The noun REFUGE has 4 senses:

1. a safe place

2. something or someone turned to for assistance or security

3. a shelter from danger or hardship

4. act of turning to for assistance

  Familiarity information: REFUGE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REFUGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A safe place

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

refuge; safety

Context example:

He ran to safety

Hypernyms ("refuge" is a kind of...):

area; country (a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "refuge"):

harborage; harbourage ((nautical) a place of refuge (as for a ship))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something or someone turned to for assistance or security

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

recourse; refuge; resort

Context example:

took refuge in lying

Hypernyms ("refuge" is a kind of...):

resource (a source of aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "refuge"):

shadow (refuge from danger or observation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A shelter from danger or hardship

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

asylum; refuge; sanctuary

Hypernyms ("refuge" is a kind of...):

shelter (a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "refuge"):

harbor; harbour (a place of refuge and comfort and security)

safehold (a refuge from attack)

safe house (a house used as a hiding place or refuge by members of certain organizations)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Act of turning to for assistance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

recourse; refuge; resort

Context example:

an appeal to his uncle was his last resort

Hypernyms ("refuge" is a kind of...):

aid; assist; assistance; help (the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose)

 Context examples 

I regarded myself as a refuge, for her, from the dangers and vicissitudes of life.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

At these moments I took refuge in the most perfect solitude.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

He waited until he was sure of striking before the squirrel could gain a tree-refuge.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

True, he might escape at night; but what would he be, if left in a strange place with no refuge that he could fly to?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Slowly I climbed out and sat for a while upon the ground, ready to spring back into my refuge if any danger should appear.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A couple seek refuge in London from a very terrible and instant danger.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But in all that wild waste there was no refuge for Leach and Johnson save on the Ghost, and they resolutely began the windward beat.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Martin and Cheese- Face were two savages, of the stone age, of the squatting place and the tree refuge.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Elizabeth received her congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

They all loved it, for it was a family refuge, and one corner had always been Jo's favorite lounging place.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)