shell


Definition: Meaning of, shell in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / ʃɛl /

  • noun
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Singular Plural
shell shells
[countable]
  1. the hard outer part that covers and protects an egg, nut, or seed
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  2. the hard protective covering of an animal such as a SNAIL, MUSSEL, or CRAB
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  3. a metal container, like a large bullet, which is full of an explosive substance and is fired from a large gun
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  4. especially American English a metal tube containing a bullet and an explosive substance [=  cartridge]
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  5. the outside structure of something, especially the part of a building that remains when the rest of it has been destroyed
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  6. out of your shell becoming less shy and more confident and willing to talk to people
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synonym
antonym
  • verb
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Prsesent Past Past Participle
shell shelled shelled
Present Participle Third Person Singular
shelling shells
[transitive]
  1. to fire shells from large guns at something
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  2. to remove something such as beans or nuts from a shell or POD
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synonym
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shell used in phrases

  • ark shell (noun)
    1. marine bivalve mollusk having a heavy toothed shell with a deep boat-like inner surface
  • artillery shell (noun)
    1. a shell fired by artillery
  • blank shell (noun)
    1. a cartridge containing an explosive charge but no bullet
  • bubble shell (noun)
    1. marine gastropod mollusk having a very small thin shell
  • coat-of-mail shell (noun)
    1. primitive elongated bilaterally symmetrical marine mollusk having a mantle covered with eight calcareous plates
  • ear-shell (noun)
    1. any of various large edible marine gastropods of the genus Haliotis having an ear-shaped shell with pearly interior
  • electron shell (noun)
    1. a grouping of electrons surrounding the nucleus of an atom
  • gas shell (noun)
    1. military bomb consisting of an explosive projectile filled with a toxic gas that is released when the bomb explodes
  • hard-shell clam (noun)
    1. atlantic coast round clams with hard shells; large clams usually used for chowders or other clam dishes
    2. an edible American clam; the heavy shells were used as money by some American Indians
  • hard-shell crab (noun)
    1. edible crab that has not recently moulted and so has a hard shell
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shell used in phrasal verbs

  • shell out (phrasal verb)
    1. to spend a lot of money on something
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