shell

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noun

Definition of SHELL

1

something that encloses another thing especially to protect it <eating oysters straight out of their shells>

Synonyms armor, capsule, casing, cocoon, cover, covering, encasement, housing, hull, husk, jacket, pod, sheath, shell

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

2

the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form <workers at the shipyard have thus far erected the shell of the ship>

Synonyms architecture, armature, cadre, configuration, edifice, fabric, framework, framing, infrastructure, shell, skeleton, structure

Related Words cage, lattice, network; contour, figure, outline, profile, shape, silhouette; chassis

3

an outer part or layer <the shell of the building is all glass, making it conspicuous on a street with mostly limestone facades>

Synonyms face, outside, shell, skin, surface, veneer

Related Words facade (also façade), front, top; cover, covering, facing; appearance, disguise, guise, mask, semblance, show

Antonyms inside, interior