shell

¹shell

noun \ˈshel\

Definition of SHELL

1

a : 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: 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 crust 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

9

a : a projectile for cannon containing an explosive bursting charge b : a metal or paper case which holds the charge of powder and shot or bullet used with breech-loading small arms

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 adjective

Examples of SHELL

1. the shell of a crab
2. We collected shells at the beach.
3. We're going to have stuffed shells for dinner.

Origin of SHELL

Middle English, from Old English sciell; akin to Old English scealu shell, Old Norse skel, Lithuanian skelti to split, Greek skallein to hoe

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SHELL

Synonyms: armor, capsule, casing, cocoon, cover, covering, encasement, housing, hull, husk, jacket, pod, sheath, ¹case

Antonyms: inside, interior

Related Words: cartridge, cassette (also casette); bark, crust; carapace, house, mail, panoply, plate, plating, shield; cuticle, hide, skin; envelope, package, wrapper; backing, coating, coverture, facing

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with SHELL

bel, bell, belle, cel, cell, dell, dwell, el, ell, fell, gel, Hel, hell, jell, knell, l, mell, quell, sell, smell, snell, spell, swell, tell, well, yell