asylum noun
1 protection given by a government
ADJ. temporary | political
VERB + ASYLUM apply for, claim, request, seek She fled the country, and is now seeking asylum in Sweden. | give sb, grant sb, offer sb, provide (sb with) | get, receive | deny sb, refuse sb Over 400 people have been refused asylum.
ASYLUM + NOUN seeker bogus/genuine asylum seekers | application, claim
PHRASES an application for asylum, the right to asylum Those fleeing from the war have the right to asylum.
2 mental hospital
ADJ. lunatic, mental
PREP. in ~ He spent three years in an asylum.