shell
noun
\ ˈshel
\
\
plural shells
Definition of shell
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: a hard rigid usually largely calcareous covering or support of an animal
b
: the hard or tough often thin outer covering of an egg (as of a bird or reptile) — see egg illustration
2
: the covering or outside part of a fruit or seed especially when hard or fibrous
3
: shell material (as of mollusks or turtles) or their substance
4
: something that resembles a shell: such as
a
: a framework or exterior structure
especially
: a building with an unfinished interior
b(1)
: an external case or outside covering
the shell of a ship
(2)
: a thin usually spherical layer or surface enclosing a space or surrounding an object
an expanding shell of gas around a neutron star
c
: a casing without substance
mere effigies and shells of men— Thomas Carlyle
d
: an edible outer layer of usually baked or fried pastry dough or bread for holding a filling
a pastry shell a taco salad in a tortilla shell
e
: band shell
f
: a small beer glass
g
: an unlined article of outerwear
5
: a shell-bearing mollusk
6
: an impersonal attitude or manner that conceals the presence or absence of feeling
he retreated into his shell
7
: a narrow light racing boat propelled by one or more persons pulling oars or sculls
8
: any of the regions occupied by the orbits of a group of electrons of approximately equal energy surrounding the nucleus of an atom
9a
: a projectile for cannon containing an explosive bursting charge
b
: a case (as of metal, paper, or plastic) that holds the charge of powder and shot or bullet used with breech-loading small arms
a shotgun shell
— compare cartridge
10
: a plain usually sleeveless blouse or sweater
11
: a company or corporation that exists without assets or independent operations as a legal entity through which another company or corporation can conduct various dealings
shell
verb
shelled;
shelling;
shells
Definition of shell (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: to take out of a natural enclosing cover (such as a shell, husk, pod, or capsule)
shell peanuts
b
: to separate the kernels of (corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk
3
: to score heavily against (someone, such as an opposing pitcher in baseball)
1
: to fall or scale off in thin pieces
2
: to cast the shell or exterior covering : fall out of the pod or husk
nuts which shell in falling
3
: to gather shells (as from a beach)
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Synonyms for shell
Synonyms: Noun
armor, capsule, case, casing, cocoon, cover, covering, encasement, housing, hull, husk, jacket, pod, sheath
Synonyms: Verb
bark, flay, hull, husk, peel, shuck, skin
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Examples of shell in a Sentence
Noun
the shell of a crab We collected shells at the beach. We're going to have stuffed shells for dinner.Verb
They shelled the enemy troops. The town was shelled during the battle.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Kirk made clothes for Harper – scarf-like tops, a purse made out of an abalone shell. — Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, "For a Generation, Valerie Harper's Rhoda Defined Imaginative Boho Style," 31 Aug. 2019 The penthouse will be delivered in July as an empty shell. — Kathleen Pender, SFChronicle.com, "Race to the top: Developers push a panoply of penthouses in San Francisco," 30 Aug. 2019 Cover and cook until mussel shells open, about 3-4 minutes. — Claire Perez, sun-sentinel.com, "Positano’s Zuppa di Mussels: ‘Everyone loves dunking their bread in the garlicky tomato sauce’," 30 Aug. 2019 Officers found two victims with gunshot wounds to the head and rifle shell casings near all three bodies. — Washington Post, "Pitcher: Life ‘destroyed’ by slayings of wife, son, in-law," 30 Aug. 2019 The two lawyers ran a law firm that was at the center of the 2016 Panama Papers scandal when documents leaked showing how wealthy people were hiding money through offshore shell corporations. — Alexia Fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman Battle for Millions in the New Trailer for The Laundromat," 28 Aug. 2019 But at this same spot where the temperature spiked, a dense cluster of hundreds of white clams and brown mussel shells appeared. — Eva Botkin-kowacki, The Christian Science Monitor, "NASA eyes the ocean: How the deep sea could unlock outer space," 23 Aug. 2019 The tiny bivalves, which take their name from the dark, zebra-like stripes on each shell, most likely arrived in the South on freighters that set sail from Eastern Europe. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, "What are Zebra Mussels?," 23 Aug. 2019 The Italian take their sand seriously: Trading sand, pebbles, and shells is punishable with fines of up to $3,300, according to a 2017 law. — Catherine Kim, Vox, "Vox Sentences: Dimissioni," 21 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
After the long stalks of Flint corn are shelled, Whitley pours 100 to 150 pound of kernels into the hopper and the grinding begins. — Loren King, BostonGlobe.com, "At Gray’s Grist Mill, they’re feeding tradition," 10 July 2019 This time, another Muslim librarian rescued the haggadah as the museum was being shelled. — David Degner, Smithsonian, "Two Tour Guides—One Israeli, One Palestinian—Offer a New Way to See the Holy Land," 9 July 2019 The right-hander entered the series on an impressive five-game run, posting a 2.53 ERA, but was shelled against Atlanta. — Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, "Braves shell Urena, Marlins’ bats shut down by Soroka in blowout," 8 June 2019 Attire: Shorts, shells Media viewing: Entire practice. — Michelle Gardner, azcentral, "ASU practice report: Jayden Daniels not the only freshman getting attention," 13 Aug. 2019 Plan on your starting pitchers getting shelled and your bullpen being constantly taxed. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc's Morning Line: Is the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff waning? We're about to find out.," 14 July 2019 Human rights groups have accused Haftar and his militia of indiscriminately bombing and shelling