Wiktionary
n. A structure, often a reinforced underground shelter designed to give protection against air raids.
WordNet
n. a chamber (often underground) reinforced against bombing and provided with food and living facilities; used during air raids [syn: bomb shelter, bombproof]
Wikipedia
Air-raid shelters, also known as bomb shelters, are structures for the protection of non-combatants as well as combatants against enemy attacks from the air. They are similar to bunkers in many regards, although they are not designed to defend against ground attack (but many have been successfully used as defensive structures in such situations).
Prior to World War II, in May 1924, an Air Raid Precautions Committee was set up in the United Kingdom. For years, little progress was made with shelters because of the apparently irreconcilable conflict between the need to send the public underground for shelter and the need to keep them above ground for protection against gas attacks. In February 1936 the Home Secretary appointed a technical Committee on Structural Precautions against Air Attack.
By November 1937, there had only been slow progress, because of a serious lack of data on which to base any design recommendations, and the Committee proposed that the Home Office should have its own department for research into structural precautions, rather than relying on research work done by the Bombing Test Committee to support the development of bomb design and strategy. This proposal was eventually implemented in January 1939.
During the Munich crisis, local authorities dug trenches to provide shelter. After the crisis, the British Government decided to make these a permanent feature, with a standard design of precast concrete trench lining. Unfortunately these turned out to perform very poorly. They also decided to issue free to poorer households the Anderson shelter, and to provide steel props to create shelters in suitable basements.
Usage examples of "air-raid shelter".
In turning away from the back end of the bridge he found another figure half in, half out, of the little steel air-raid shelter.
Under Lobby House was nothing like enough space, so the air-raid shelter was the interior parts of the 10th through 85th floors, away from the flying glass of the curtain walls but not too near the elevator shafts.
The iron door, painted with red lead, had no doubt seen service outside an air-raid shelter in the war years.
He seemed to dislike the sight of the ugly brick and concrete air-raid shelter for the staff, and turned back to confront the First Sea Lord.
Funny, isn't it, her so frightened and won't go in an air-raid shelter.
But if the bombing starts, you must all be sure to use them as an air-raid shelter.
He heaved on one end of a shed which had smashed into the air-raid shelter belonging to No.
After the great fire of London, Christopher Wren redesigned fifty churches including St Paul's, St Michael's, and St Bride's He designed the Royal Exchange and Buckingham House He died in seventeen twenty-three and is buried in St Paul's This house was converted to an office building in nineteen seven, and in the Second World War during the Blitz, the government declared it an official air-raid shelter.