plural shells
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: 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
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
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 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
adjective
shelled; shelling; shells
1
a
: 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)
Synonyms
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 WebPaula Lee, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2023
The shell is made from real wax, and the LED light flickers to resemble a traditional candle.
—Addie Morton, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
Picture sweet potato crème brûlée inside the shell of a sweet potato: a rummy, spicy sweet potato caramel, and a topper of meringue.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Eventually, Tsunami hit the house with a single mortar shell.
—Bob Seely, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
Its sleek durable shell is just a bonus, which is sure to last for years to come.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
Recovered artifacts include two 10-inch artillery shells, grapeshot, canister shots and a sword blade.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
During his trip to Ukraine, Austin announced a new $100 million security aid package for Ukraine, which included an unspecified number of those NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2023
Austin announced that the U.S. military would send approximately $100 million in additional donations of U.S. equipment to Kyiv, including Stinger antiaircraft missiles, artillery shells and cold-weather gear.
—Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Marc Santora, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2023
In other Russian attacks in the past day, two civilians were killed by shelling in the southern city of Kherson and one died after a strike on the city of Krasnohorivka in the eastern Donetsk region.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2023
In retaliation, Israel was shelling targets in Gaza, sometimes killing civilians in the process.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Prokudin said that Russian forces shelled Kherson and the surrounding region 62 times over the previous 24 hours, wounding four civilians and damaging one of the city’s libraries.
—TIME, 12 Nov. 2023
Explosions echoed from the hillsides overlooking Kiryat Shmona on Friday as residents of this city of 22,000 began to leave after Israeli authorities ordered its evacuation following escalating shelling from militants in Lebanon.
—WSJ, 21 Oct. 2023
Just weeks after the war’s end, Egypt sank the Eilat, an Israeli naval destroyer, and Israel retaliated by shelling Egyptian cities along the Suez Canal.
—Uri Kaufman, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2023
Snack on foods that take more effort to eat (like shelled nuts, edamame, or fruit with a peel) to keep your mind off of eating unhealthy foods.
—Kristine Thomason, Health, 2 Nov. 2023
His parents’ butcher shop was shelled earlier this year.
—James Verini Paolo Pellegrin, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023
See More
Noun
Materials: 100% cotton shell Size range: XXS–XXL; available in regular and petite
Colors: Khaki, black
Save on the best trench coats for women with these Banana Republic promo codes.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2023
The shell is made from real wax, and the LED light flickers to resemble a traditional candle.
—Addie Morton, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
Picture sweet potato crème brûlée inside the shell of a sweet potato: a rummy, spicy sweet potato caramel, and a topper of meringue.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Eventually, Tsunami hit the house with a single mortar shell.
—Bob Seely, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
Its sleek durable shell is just a bonus, which is sure to last for years to come.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
Recovered artifacts include two 10-inch artillery shells, grapeshot, canister shots and a sword blade.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
During his trip to Ukraine, Austin announced a new $100 million security aid package for Ukraine, which included an unspecified number of those NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2023
Austin announced that the U.S. military would send approximately $100 million in additional donations of U.S. equipment to Kyiv, including Stinger antiaircraft missiles, artillery shells and cold-weather gear.
—Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Verb
At the same time, the country’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, said that Russians shelled one of its thermal power plants near the front, knocking out power for people in the area.
—Marc Santora, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2023
In other Russian attacks in the past day, two civilians were killed by shelling in the southern city of Kherson and one died after a strike on the city of Krasnohorivka in the eastern Donetsk region.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2023
In retaliation, Israel was shelling targets in Gaza, sometimes killing civilians in the process.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Prokudin said that Russian forces shelled Kherson and the surrounding region 62 times over the previous 24 hours, wounding four civilians and damaging one of the city’s libraries.
—TIME, 12 Nov. 2023
Explosions echoed from the hillsides overlooking Kiryat Shmona on Friday as residents of this city of 22,000 began to leave after Israeli authorities ordered its evacuation following escalating shelling from militants in Lebanon.
—WSJ, 21 Oct. 2023
Just weeks after the war’s end, Egypt sank the Eilat, an Israeli naval destroyer, and Israel retaliated by shelling Egyptian cities along the Suez Canal.
—Uri Kaufman, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2023
Snack on foods that take more effort to eat (like shelled nuts, edamame, or fruit with a peel) to keep your mind off of eating unhealthy foods.
—Kristine Thomason, Health, 2 Nov. 2023
His parents’ butcher shop was shelled earlier this year.
—James Verini Paolo Pellegrin, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
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
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1562, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of shell was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing shell
Dictionary Entries Near shell
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shell. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
shell
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a hard stiff covering of an animal (as a turtle or beetle)
b
: the outer covering of an egg (as of a bird or reptile)
2
: the outer covering of a nut, fruit, or seed especially when hard or tough
3
: shell material or shells especially of mollusks
4
: something like a shell: as
a
: a framework or outside structure
b
: a bottom crust for a pie
a pastry shell
c
: a concrete arched roof (as over an outdoor stage)
a band shell
5
: a way of behaving that hides one's feelings
coming out of one's shell
6
: a shell-bearing mollusk
7
: a narrow light racing boat rowed by one or more persons using long oars
8
a
: an object filled with an explosive to be shot from cannon
b
: a metal or paper case holding the explosive charge and shot or bullet used in small arms
shell
adjective
shell
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to remove from a natural enclosing cover (as a shell or husk) : shuck
shell peas
b
: to remove the grains from (as an ear of corn)
2
: to shoot shells at or upon
3
: to fall out of the pod or husk
4
: to collect shells (as from a beach)
More from Merriam-Webster on shell
Nglish: Translation of shell for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of shell for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shell
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