shell

shell
[[t]ʃe̱l[/t]]
♦♦♦
shells, shelling, shelled
1) N-COUNT The shell of a nut or egg is the hard covering which surrounds it.

They cracked the nuts and removed their shells...

Once the eggs have hatched the shells are left behind.

N-UNCOUNT
Shell is the substance that a shell is made of.

...beads made from ostrich egg shell.

2) N-COUNT 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.
3) N-COUNT 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.

4) VERB If you shell nuts, peas, prawns, or other food, you remove their natural outer covering.

[V n] She shelled and ate a few nuts.

[V-ed] ...shelled prawns.

5) N-COUNT: usu poss N 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.

...a lonely boy struggling to emerge from his shell.

6) N-COUNT: usu with supp The shell of a building, boat, car, or other structure is the outside frame of it.

...the shells of burned buildings...

The solid feel of the car's shell is impressive.

7) N-COUNT A shell is a weapon consisting of a metal container filled with explosives that can be fired from a large gun over long distances.
8) VERB To shell a place means to fire explosive shells at it.

[V n] The rebels shelled the densely-populated suburbs near the port.

Phrasal Verbs:
Derived words:
shelling plural N-VAR

Out on the streets, the shelling continued.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shell — may refer to * Animal shell, or exoskeleton, including those of molluscs, turtles, insects and crustaceans * Seashell, the shells of various marine animals, especially marine mollusks * Eggshell, the outer covering of a hard shelled eggAny more… …   Wikipedia

  • shell — less, adj. shell like, adj. /shel/, n. 1. a hard outer covering of an animal, as the hard case of a mollusk, or either half of the case of a bivalve mollusk. 2. any of various objects resembling such a covering, as in shape or in being more or… …   Universalium

  • shell — [ʆel] verb shell out something phrasal verb [intransitive, transitive] informal to spend a lot of money on something, often when you do not really want to; =FORK OUT: shell out something for/​on • The insurance company refused to shell out for… …   Financial and business terms

  • shell — [shel] n. [ME schelle < OE sciel, akin to MDu schelle < IE base * (s)kel : see SHELF] 1. a hard outer covering, as of a turtle, mollusk, insect, egg, fruit, seed, etc. 2. something like or suggestive of a shell in being hollow, empty, or… …   English World dictionary

  • shell — ► NOUN 1) the hard protective outer case of an animal such as a snail, shellfish, or turtle. 2) the outer covering of an egg, nut kernel, or seed. 3) an explosive artillery projectile or bomb. 4) a hollow metal or paper case used as a container… …   English terms 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. [1913 Webster] 2. To separate the kernels of (an ear of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shell — Shell, v. i. 1. To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc. [1913 Webster] 2. To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling. [1913 Webster] 3. To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shell|y — «SHEHL ee», adjective, shell|i|er, shell|i|est. 1. abounding in shells. 2. consisting of a shell or shells. 3. shell like …   Useful english dictionary

  • Shell — У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Шелл. Shell: Shell  интерпретатор команд операционной системы. Royal Dutch Shell  британско нидерландская компания …   Википедия

  • Shell — [ʃɛl] die; , s <aus gleichbed. engl. shell, eigtl. »Schale, Hülle«>: 1. Benutzeroberfläche eines Betriebssystems (von Computern; EDV). 2. ↑Expertensystem, das noch nicht od. nicht mehr mit Fakten od. Regeln eines bestimmten Gebiets gefüllt… …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”