shell

Definitions

1. 1noun

   A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal.

2. 2noun

   The covering, or outside part, of a nut; as, a hazelnut shell.

3. 3noun

   A pod.

4. 4noun

   The hard covering of an egg.

5. 5noun

   The hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. In some mollusks, as the cuttlefishes, it is internal, or concealed by the mantle. Also, the hard covering of some vertebrates, as the armadillo, the tortoise, and the like.

6. 6noun

   Hence, by extension, any mollusks having such a covering.

7. 7noun

   A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuse or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb.

8. 8noun

   The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms.

9. 9noun

   Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house.

10. 10noun

    A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one.

11. 11noun

    An instrument of music, as a lyre, -- the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell.

12. 12noun

    An engraved copper roller used in print works.

13. 13noun

    The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc.

14. 14noun

    The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve.

15. 15noun

    A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell.

16. 16transitive verb

    To strip or break off the shell of; to take out of the shell, pod, etc.; as, to shell nuts or pease; to shell oysters.

17. 17transitive verb

    To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk.

18. 18transitive verb

    To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town.

19. 19intransitive verb

    To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.

20. 20intransitive verb

    To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling.

21. 21intransitive verb

    To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping.

22. 22noun

    hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles

    Synonyms

    carapacecuticleshield
23. 23noun

    the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod

24. 24noun

    a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)

    Synonyms

    platescale
25. 25noun

    ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

26. 26noun

    the housing or outer covering of something

    "the clock has a walnut case"

    Synonyms

    casecasing
27. 27noun

    a very light narrow racing boat

28. 28noun

    a rigid covering that envelops an object

    "the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice"

29. 29noun

    the exterior covering of a bird's egg

    Synonyms

    eggshell
30. 30noun

    the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts

31. 31noun

    the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals

32. 32verb

    remove the husks from

    "husk corn"

    Synonyms

    husk
33. 33verb

    remove from its shell or outer covering

    "shell the legumes"

    "shell mussels"

34. 34verb

    come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

    "Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship"

    "We beat the competition"

    Synonyms

    beatcrushtrouncevanquish
35. 35verb

    use explosives on

    "The enemy has been shelling us all day"

    Synonyms

    blast
36. 36verb

    look for and collect shells by the seashore

37. 37verb

    hit the pitches of hard and regularly

    "He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning"

38. 38verb

    fall out of the pod or husk

    "The corn shelled"

39. 39verb

    create by using explosives

    "blast a passage through the mountain"

    Synonyms

    blast