Bunker vs Shelter - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between bunker and shelter

is that bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks while shelter is a refuge, haven or other cover or protection from something.

As verbs the difference between bunker and shelter

is that bunker is to load a vessel with oil or coal for the engine while shelter is to provide cover from damage or harassment; to shield; to protect.

bunker

English

(wikipedia bunker)

Noun

(en noun)

(military) A hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks.

(British) A large container or bin for storing coal, often built outside in the yard of a house. Now rare, as different types of fuels and energy sources are being used.

(nautical) A container for storing coal or fuel oil for a ship's engine.

(golf) A sand-filled hollow on a golf course.

(paintball) An obstacle used to block an opposing player's view and field of fire.

(Scotland) A sort of chest or box, as in a window, the lid of which serves for a seat.

(Jamieson)

Derived terms

* bunker fuel

Verb

(en verb)

(nautical) To load a vessel with oil or coal for the engine.

(golf) To hit a golfball into a bunker.

(paintball) To fire constantly at a hiding opponent, preventing them from firing at other players and trapping them behind the barrier. This can also refer to eliminating an opponent behind cover by rushing the position and firing at extremely close range as the player becomes exposed.

Derived terms

* bunker down ----

shelter

English

Noun

(en noun)

A refuge, haven or other cover or protection from something.

* {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne

, title=Well Tackled! , chapter=7 citation , passage=The detective kept them in view. He made his way casually along the inside of the shelter until he reached an open scuttle close to where the two men were standing talking. Eavesdropping was not a thing Larard would have practised from choice, but there were times when, in the public interest, he had to do it, and this was one of them.}}

An institution that provides temporary housing for homeless people, battered women etc.

Derived terms

* bus shelter

Verb

(en verb)

To provide cover from damage or harassment; to shield; to protect.

* Dryden

Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head.

* Southey

You have no convents in which such persons may be received and sheltered .

To take cover.

During the rainstorm, we sheltered under a tree.