sanctuary

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun A sacred place, such as a church, temple, or mosque.
• noun The holiest part of a sacred place, as the part of a Christian church around the altar.
• noun A sacred place, such as a church, in which fugitives formerly were immune to arrest.
• noun Immunity to arrest afforded by a sanctuary.
• noun The condition of being protected or comforted: synonym: shelter.
• noun A place of refuge or asylum.
• noun A reserved area in which birds and other animals, especially wild animals, are protected from hunting or disturbance.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A sacred or consecrated place; a holy spot; a place in which sacred things are kept.
• noun Specifically— In Scripture, the temple at Jerusalem, particularly the most retired part of it, called the holy of holies, in which was kept the ark of the covenant, and into which no person was permitted to enter except the high priest, and that only once a year to intercede for the people. The same name was given to the corresponding part of the tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. xxv. 8).
• noun A house consecrated to the worship of God; a church.
• noun The cella or most sacred part of an Egyptian, Greek, or Roman temple.
• noun In classical antiquity, a sacred place, a locality, whether inclosed or not, but generally inclosed, consecrated to some divinity or group of divinities, often a grove, sometimes an inclosure of notable size and importance, containing shrines, temples, a theater, arrangements for gymnastic contests, places of shelter for suppliants or for the sick, etc.: as, the sanctuary of Æsculapius at Epidaurus.
• noun The part of a church where the chief altar stands; the chancel; the presbytery. See cut under reredos.
• noun A portable shrine containing relics.
• noun A churchyard.
• noun A place of refuge or protection; a sacred asylum; specifically, a church or other sacred place to which is attached the privilege of affording protection from arrest and the ordinary operation of the law to criminals, debtors, etc., taking refuge within its precincts.
• noun Refuge; shelter; protection; specifically, the immunity from the ordinary operations of law afforded by the sacred character of a place, or by a specially privileged church, abbey, etc.
• To place in safety as in a sanctuary; bestow safely.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun The most retired part of the temple at Jerusalem, called the Holy of Holies, in which was kept the ark of the covenant, and into which no person was permitted to enter except the high priest, and he only once a year, to intercede for the people; also, the most sacred part of the tabernacle; also, the temple at Jerusalem.
• noun (Arch.) The most sacred part of any religious building, esp. that part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed.
• noun A house consecrated to the worship of God; a place where divine service is performed; a church, temple, or other place of worship.
• noun A sacred and inviolable asylum; a place of refuge and protection; shelter; refuge; protection.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun A place of safety, refuge, or protection.
• noun An area set aside for protection.
• noun A state of being protected, asylum.
• noun The consecrated (or sacred) area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a consecrated place where sacred objects are kept
• noun a shelter from danger or hardship
• noun area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing