/'sæŋktʃʊərɪ; [US] -ʊerɪ; `sæŋktʃu,ɛrɪ/
n
1 [C] sacred place, eg a church, temple or mosque 圣所, 圣地（如教堂、庙宇或回教寺院）.
2 [C]
(a) chancel of a church 圣坛.
(b) (esp US) room where general religious services are held 圣堂.
3 (a) [C] sacred place where sb is protected from people wishing to arrest or attack him （为受逮捕、攻击威胁的人提供的）庇护所
*The fleeing rebels found a sanctuary in the nearby church. 叛乱後逃跑的人躲入附近教堂寻求庇护.
(b) [U] (the right to offer) such protection 庇护; （为他人提供的）庇护权
*claim/seek/take/be offered sanctuary 要求[寻求/接受/受到]庇护.
4 [C] any place where refuge is provided 避难所
*Our country is a sanctuary for political refugees from all over the world. 我国是全世界政治难民的避难所.
5 [C] area where birds and wild animals are protected from hunters, etc and are encouraged to breed 禁猎区; 鸟兽保护区
*a `bird sanctuary 鸟类禁猎区.

npluralsanctuaries
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: sainctuarie, from Late Latin sanctuarium, from Latin sanctus; SAINT]
[C]
an area for birds or animals where they are protected and cannot be hunted
= refuge
bird/wildlife etc sanctuary
　The park is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the US.
sanctuary for
　a sanctuary for tigers
[U and C]
a peaceful place that is safe and provides protection, especially for people who are in danger
= refuge
find/seek sanctuary
　Fleeing refugees found sanctuary in Geneva.
sanctuary for
　a sanctuary for battered women
[C]
the part of a religious building that is considered to be the most holy
[C]AmE
the room in a religious building where religious services take place
[U]
the right that people had under Christian law, especially in the past, to be protected from police, soldiers etc by staying in a church