1. Ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
   "The artillery unit loaded another shell into the howitzer"
    
2. The material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
   "The shell was crushed into powder for use in traditional medicine"
    
3. Hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles
   "The hermit crab uses the shell of other animals for protection";
   - carapace, cuticle, shield
    
4. The hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod
   "Children collected colourful shells along the beach"
    
5. The exterior covering of a bird's egg
   "The robin's eggs had a beautiful blue shell";
   - eggshell
    
6. The hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts
   "The walnut shell protects the edible kernel inside"
    
7. A rigid covering that envelops an object
   "the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice"
    
8. The housing or outer covering of something
   "The computer's shell protected its internal components";
   - case, casing
    
9. A metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
   "The turtle withdrew into its protective shell";
   - plate, scale
    
10. A very light narrow racing boat
    "The crew team practised in their sleek racing shell on the river";
    - racing shell

1. Use explosives on
   "The enemy has been shelling us all day";
   - blast
    
2. Create by using explosives
   "The military shelled a path through the mountain";
   - blast
    
3. Remove from its shell or outer covering
   "shell the legumes"; "shell mussels"
    
4. Remove the husks from
   "shell corn";
   - husk
    
5. Fall out of the pod or husk
   "The corn shelled"
    
6. Hit the pitches of hard and regularly
   "He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning"
    
7. Look for and collect shells by the seashore
   "The children spent the afternoon shelling on the beach"
    
8. [US] Come out better in a competition, race, or conflict; defeat thoroughly
   "Our team shelled the opposition";
   - beat, beat out, crush, trounce, vanquish

1. She will
   "She'll arrive at noon"

Derived forms: shelling, shells, shelled

Type of: ammo [informal], ammunition, animal material, bomb, bombard, cover, covering, create, emerge, exceed, gather, hit, housing, hull, make, natural covering, outdo, outgo [archaic], outmatch, outperform, outstrip, racing boat, remove, scute, shield, surmount, surpass, take, take away, withdraw

Part of: arthropod, egg, eggs, grandfather clock, longcase clock, mollusc, mollusk [N. Amer], shellfish, turtle

Encyclopedia: Shell, Steven