Basement vs. Bunker — What's the Difference?

A basement or cellar is one or more floors of a building that are completely or partly below the ground floor. It generally is used as a utility space for a building, where such items as the boiler, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system are located; so also are amenities such as the electrical distribution system and cable television distribution point.

A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs or other attacks. Bunkers are mostly underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground.

The floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level

A bin or tank especially for fuel storage, as on a ship.

The substructure or foundation of a building.

Often bunkers Fuel, such as coal or fuel oil, used especially in ships.

The lowest habitable story of a building, usually below ground level.

An underground fortification, often with a concrete projection above ground level for observation or gun emplacements.

A complex of undifferentiated igneous and metamorphic rocks underlying sedimentary strata.

(Sports) See sand trap.

(Slang) The last place or lowest level, as in competitive standings.

To store or place (fuel) in a bunker.

Chiefly New England A public toilet, especially one in a school.

(Sports) To hit (a golf ball) into a sand trap.

A floor of a building below ground level.

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

(geology) A mass of igneous or metamorphic rock forming the foundation over which a platform of sedimentary rocks is laid.

(nautical) A container for storing coal or fuel oil for a ship's engine; (by extension) the quantity of fuel needed to replenish that container.

Last place in a sports conference standings.

(rail transport) The coal compartment on a tank engine.

The lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

(sports)

The ground floor facade or interior in Renaissance architecture

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

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

A large bin or container for storing coal, often built outdoors in the yard of a house.

(Scotland)

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

(slang) A kitchen worktop.

One who bunks off; a truant from school.

The menhaden, any of several species of fish in the genera Brevoortia and Ethmidium.

(nautical)

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

To take a load of coal or fuel oil for its engine.

To steal bunker fuel by illicitly siphoning it off.

To hit (a golf ball) into a bunker; to place (a golfer) in the position of having a golf ball in a bunker.

To place (someone) in a position that is difficult to get out of; to hinder.

To fire constantly at (an opponent hiding behind an obstacle), trapping them and preventing them from firing at other players; also, to eliminate (an opponent behind an obstacle) by rushing to the position and firing at extremely close range as the player becomes exposed.

(intransitive) Often followed by down: to take shelter in a bunker or other place.

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

A large bin or similar receptacle; as, a coal bunker.

A small sand hole or pit, as on a golf course.

Hence, any rough hazardous ground on the links; also, an artificial hazard with built-up faces.

A fortified position dug into the ground, especially one which is closed on top and has protective walls and roof, e. g. of reinforced concrete. For defending positions it usually has windows to view the surrounding terrain, but as a safe location for planning operations or storage, a bunker may be completely underground with no direct access to the surface.

To drive (the ball) into a bunker.

A hazard on a golf course

A fortification of earth; mostly or entirely below ground

Hit a golf ball into a bunker

Fill (a ship's bunker) with coal or oil

Transfer cargo from a ship to a warehouse