Adjacent Words

Shell definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SHELL, n.
1. The hard and stony covering of certain fruits and of certain animals; as the shell of a nut; the shell of an oyster or lobster. the shells of animals are crustaceous or testaceous; crustaceous as that of the lobster, and testaceous as that of the oyster and clam.
2. The outer coat of an egg.
3. The outer part of a house unfinished. We say of a building that wants the interior timbers or finishing, that it is a mere shell.
4. An instrument of music, like testudo in Latin; the first lyre being make, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell.
5. Oute ror superficial part; as the shell of religion.
6. A bomb.
Fossil shells, dug up from the earth.
SHELL, v.t.
1. To strip or break off the shell; or to take out of the shell; as, to shell nuts or almonds.
2. To separate from the ear; as, to shell maiz.
SHELL, v.i.
1. To fall off, as a shell, crust or exterior coat.
2. To cast the shell or exterior covering. Nuts shell in falling.
3. To be disengaged from the husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
2: the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
3: hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles [syn: carapace, shell, cuticle, shield]
4: the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts
5: the exterior covering of a bird's egg [syn: shell, eggshell]
6: a rigid covering that envelops an object; "the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice"
7: a very light narrow racing boat [syn: shell, racing shell]
8: the housing or outer covering of something; "the clock has a walnut case" [syn: shell, case, casing]
9: a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners) [syn: plate, scale, shell]
10: the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod v
1: use explosives on; "The enemy has been shelling us all day" [syn: blast, shell]
2: create by using explosives; "blast a passage through the mountain" [syn: blast, shell]
3: fall out of the pod or husk; "The corn shelled"
4: hit the pitches of hard and regularly; "He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning"
5: look for and collect shells by the seashore
6: come out better in a competition, race, or conflict; "Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship"; "We beat the competition"; "Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game" [syn: beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish]
7: remove from its shell or outer covering; "shell the legumes"; "shell mussels"
8: remove the husks from; "husk corn" [syn: husk, shell]

Merriam Webster's

Date: circa 1590 she will ; she shall

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sciell; akin to Old English scealu shell, Old Norse skel, Lithuanian skelti to split, Greek skallein to hoe Date: before 12th century 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 II. verb Date: 1562 transitive verb 1. a. to take out of a natural enclosing cover (as a shell, husk, pod, or capsule) <shell peanuts> b. to separate the kernels of (as an ear of Indian corn, wheat, or oats) from the cob, ear, or husk 2. to throw shells at, upon, or into ; bombard 3. to score heavily against (as an opposing pitcher in baseball) intransitive verb 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) ; collect shells

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a the hard outer case of many marine molluscs (cockle shell). b the esp. hard but fragile outer covering of a bird's, reptile's, etc. egg. c the usu. hard outer case of a nut-kernel, seed, etc. d the carapace of a tortoise, turtle, etc. e the wing-case or pupa-case of many insects etc. 2 a an explosive projectile or bomb for use in a big gun or mortar. b a hollow metal or paper case used as a container for fireworks, explosives, cartridges, etc. c US a cartridge. 3 a mere semblance or outer form without substance. 4 any of several things resembling a shell in being an outer case, esp.: a a light racing-boat. b a hollow pastry case. c the metal framework of a vehicle body etc. d the walls of an unfinished or gutted building, ship, etc. e an inner or roughly-made coffin. f a building shaped like a conch. g the handguard of a sword. 5 a group of electrons with almost equal energy in an atom. --v. 1 tr. remove the shell or pod from. 2 tr. bombard (a town, troops, etc.) with shells. 3 tr. provide or cover with a shell or shells. 4 intr. (usu. foll. by off) (of metal etc.) come off in scales. 5 intr. (of a seed etc.) be released from a shell. Phrases and idioms: come out of one's shell cease to be shy; become communicative. shell-bit a gouge-shaped boring bit. shell company an unimportant firm made the subject of a take-over bid because of its status on the Stock Exchange etc. shell egg an egg still in its shell, not dried etc. shell-heap (or -mound) hist. a kitchen midden. shell-jacket an army officer's tight-fitting undress jacket reaching to the waist. shell-lime fine quality lime produced by burning sea shells. shell-money shells used as a medium of exchange, e.g. wampum. shell out (also absol.) colloq. 1 pay (money). 2 hand over (a required sum). shell-out n. 1 the act of shelling out. 2 a game of snooker etc. played by three or more people. shell-pink a delicate pale pink. shell-shock a nervous breakdown resulting from exposure to battle. shell-shocked suffering from shell-shock. shell-work ornamentation consisting of shells cemented on to wood etc. Derivatives: shelled adj. shell-less adj. shell-like adj. shellproof adj. (in sense 2a of n.). shelly adj. Etymology: OE sc(i)ell f. Gmc: cf. SCALE(1)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

contr. she will; she shall.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shell Shell, n. [OE. shelle, schelle, AS. scell, scyll; akin to D. shel, Icel. skel, Goth. skalja a tile, and E. skill. Cf. Scale of fishes, Shale, Skill.] 1. A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal. Specifically: (a) The covering, or outside part, of a nut; as, a hazelnut shell. (b) A pod. (c) The hard covering of an egg. Think him as a serpent's egg, . . . And kill him in the shell. --Shak. (d) (Zo["o]l.) 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. (e) (Zo["o]l.) Hence, by extension, any mollusks having such a covering. 2. (Mil.) 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. 3. The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms. 4. Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house. 5. A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one. --Knight. 6. An instrument of music, as a lyre, -- the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell. When Jubal struck the chorded shell. --Dryden. 7. An engraved copper roller used in print works. 8. pl. The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc. 9. (Naut.) The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve. 10. A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell. Message shell, a bombshell inside of which papers may be put, in order to convey messages. Shell bit, a tool shaped like a gouge, used with a brace in boring wood. See Bit, n., 3. Shell button. (a) A button made of shell. (b) A hollow button made of two pieces, as of metal, one for the front and the other for the back, -- often covered with cloth, silk, etc. Shell cameo, a cameo cut in shell instead of stone. Shell flower. (Bot.) Same as Turtlehead. Shell gland. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A glandular organ in which the rudimentary shell is formed in embryonic mollusks. (b) A glandular organ which secretes the eggshells of various worms, crustacea, mollusks, etc. Shell gun, a cannon suitable for throwing shells. Shell ibis (Zo["o]l.), the openbill of India. Shell jacket, an undress military jacket. Shell lime, lime made by burning the shells of shellfish. Shell marl (Min.), a kind of marl characterized by an abundance of shells, or fragments of shells. Shell meat, food consisting of shellfish, or testaceous mollusks. --Fuller. Shell mound. See under Mound. Shell of a boiler, the exterior of a steam boiler, forming a case to contain the water and steam, often inclosing also flues and the furnace; the barrel of a cylindrical, or locomotive, boiler. Shell road, a road of which the surface or bed is made of shells, as oyster shells. Shell sand, minute fragments of shells constituting a considerable part of the seabeach in some places.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shell Shell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shelling.] 1. 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. 2. To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk. 3. To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town. To shell out, to distribute freely; to bring out or pay, as money. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shell Shell, v. i. 1. To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc. 2. To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling. 3. To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shell Shell, n. 1. Something similar in form or action to an ordnance shell; specif.: (a) (Fireworks) A case or cartridge containing a charge of explosive material, which bursts after having been thrown high into the air. It is often elevated through the agency of a larger firework in which it is contained. (b) (Oil Wells) A torpedo. 2. A concave rough cast-iron tool in which a convex lens is ground to shape. 3. A gouge bit or shell bit.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(shells, shelling, shelled) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. The shell of a nut or egg is the hard covering which surrounds it. They cracked the nuts and removed their shells... N-COUNT • Shell is the substance that a shell is made of. ...beads made from ostrich egg shell. N-UNCOUNT 2. The shell of an animal such as a tortoise, snail, or crab is the hard protective covering that it has around its body or on its back. N-COUNT 3. Shells are hard objects found on beaches. They are usually pink, white, or brown and are the coverings which used to surround small sea creatures. I collect shells and interesting seaside items. ...sea shells. N-COUNT 4. If you shell nuts, peas, prawns, or other food, you remove their natural outer covering. She shelled and ate a few nuts. ...shelled prawns. VERB: V n, V-ed 5. If someone comes out of their shell, they become more friendly and interested in other people and less quiet, shy, and reserved. Her normally shy son had come out of his shell. N-COUNT: usu poss N 6. The shell of a building, boat, car, or other structure is the outside frame of it. ...the shells of burned buildings... N-COUNT: usu with supp 7. A shell is a weapon consisting of a metal container filled with explosives that can be fired from a large gun over long distances. N-COUNT 8. To shell a place means to fire explosive shells at it. The rebels shelled the densely-populated suburbs near the port. VERB: V n • shelling (shellings) Out on the streets, the shelling continued. N-VAR

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

She'll is the usual spoken form of 'she will'. Sharon was a wonderful lady and I know she'll be greatly missed.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Case, outer covering. 2. Bomb. 3. Framework. 4. Lyre, stringed instrument. II. v. a. 1. Take out of the shell, strip the shell from, hull. 2. Bombard. III. v. n. Exfoliate, fall off, peel off, shell off.

Moby Thesaurus

Eustachian tube, L, R, acting area, aim at, alveolation, alveolus, ante up, antrum, anvil, apron, apron stage, armadillo shell, armature, armor, armor plate, armpit, atom, atomic model, attack, auditory apparatus, auditory canal, auditory meatus, auditory nerve, auditory ossicles, auditory tube, auricle, backstage, ball, ball cartridge, band shell, bandstand, bar shot, bark, barrage, basilar membrane, basin, bird shot, blank cartridge, blast, blitz, board, body armor, bomb, bombard, bony labyrinth, border, bowl, bran, bridge, buckler, buckshot, bullet, bulletproof vest, cadre, cannon, cannon shot, cannonade, cannonball, capsule, cartouche, cartridge, case, case shot, casement, casing, cauliflower ear, cavity, chaff, chain armor, chain mail, chassis, chitin, chiton, circumference, clam shell, coat of mail, cochlea, cockleshell, cocoa shell, commence firing, concave, concavity, conch, concha, corn shuck, cornhusk, cortex, coulisse, covering, cowrie, crater, crossbar shot, crust, crypt, cup, decorticate, depression, dip, disburse, dish out, dock, doorframe, dressing room, drumhead, duck shot, dumdum bullet, ear, ear lobe, eardrum, eggshell, elytron, endolymph, enfilade, envelope, epidermis, episperm, eschar, excorticate, expanding bullet, expend, exterior, external, external ear, externals, fabric, facade, face, facet, fire a volley, fire at, fire upon, flies, fly floor, fly gallery, fold, follicle, forestage, fork out, frame, framework, framing, fringe, front, funnel chest, fusillade, give out, grape, grapeshot, greenroom, grid, gridiron, habergeon, hammer, hand out, hand over, harness, hauberk, hole, hollow, hollow shell, hull, husk, incrustation, incus, inner ear, integument, ion, jacket, lacuna, langrel shot, lattice, latticework, lay out, lightboard, limpet, lineaments, lobe, lobule, lorica, lorication, lug, mail, malleus, manstopping bullet, mastoid process, middle ear, mortar, needles, nuclear atom, nuclide, nutshell, open fire, open up on, orchestra, orchestra pit, organ of Corti, outer ear, outer face, outer layer, outer side, outer skin, outline, outside, oval window, oyster shell, palea, panoply, pastry shell, pay out, peel, pellet, pepper, performing area, pericarp, perilymph, periphery, periwinkle, picture frame, piecrust, pinna, pit, planetary shell, plate, plate armor, pocket, pod, pop at, projectile, proscenium, proscenium stage, protective covering, punch bowl, rake, rifle ball, rind, round shot, round window, sash, scab, scale, scallop, scoop, scute, scutum, sea shell, secondary eardrum, semicircular canals, shell out, shield, shoot, shoot at, shot, shrapnel, shuck, sink, sinus, skeleton, skin, slough, slug, snipe, snipe at, socket, spend, spines, split shot, stage, stage left, stage right, stalactite, stalagmite, stapes, stirrup, strafe, subshell, suit of armor, superficies, superstratum, surface, switchboard, tagged atom, take aim at, test, testa, the boards, thick skin, top, torpedo, tracer, tracer atom, trough, tympanic cavity, tympanic membrane, tympanum, valence shell, vestibule, vug, whelk, window case, window frame, wings, winkle, zero in on