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shell

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A shell is a hard covering on the outside of something. (noun)

An example of a shell is what you crack to open an egg.
An example of a shell is the hard part of a snail.

Shell means to remove the outside cover of something. (verb)

An example of to shell is removing the seeds from a dried flower pod.

Shell means to fire explosives from a large gun or guns. (verb)

An example of to shell is the military bombing civilian homes.

See shell in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a hard outer covering, as of a turtle, mollusk, insect, egg, fruit, seed, etc.
something like or suggestive of a shell in being hollow, empty, or simply a covering or framework, as the hull of a boat, a hollow pastry or unfilled pie crust, the framework of a building, a structure with an arched or hemispherical roof or back, a tapered beer glass, etc.
a shy, reserved, or uncommunicative attitude or manner: to come out of one's shell
☆ a woman's simple sleeveless blouse or sweater
☆ a long, narrow, thin-hulled racing boat rowed usually by a team of oarsmen
an explosive artillery projectile containing high explosives and sometimes shrapnel, chemicals, etc.
☆ a cartridge for small arms or small artillery, consisting of a metal, paper, or plastic case holding the primer, powder charge, and shot or bullet
a pyrotechnic cartridge which explodes high in the air
1. a mollusk
2. shellfish
Chem., Physics
1. any of the spherical or elliptical orbits of electrons around the nucleus of an atom, each with the same principal quantum number and about the same energy
2. the space taken up by such an orbit
3. a grouping of like nucleons of approximately the same energy in the nucleus

transitive verb

to remove the shell or covering from; take out of the shell: to shell peas, oysters, etc.
to separate kernels or grains of (corn, wheat, etc.) from the cob or ear
to fire shells at from a large gun or guns; bombard

intransitive verb

to separate from the shell or covering: peanuts shell easily
to fall, slough, or peel off, as a shell
☆ to gather or collect shells

Related Forms:

shell-like adjective
shelly adjective

See shell in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(shĕl)

noun

a. The usually hard outer covering that encases certain organisms, such as mollusks, insects, and turtles; the carapace.
b. A similar outer covering on an egg, fruit, or nut.
c. The material that constitutes such a covering.
Something resembling or having the form of a shell, especially:
a. An external, usually hard, protective or enclosing case or cover.
b. A framework or exterior, as of a building.
c. A thin layer of pastry.
d. The external part of the ear.
Nautical
a. The hull of a ship.
b. A light, long, narrow racing boat propelled by rowers.
A small glass for beer.
a. An artillery projectile containing an explosive charge.
b. A metal or cardboard case containing the charge and primer for a piece of firearms ammunition, especially one also containing shot and fired from a shotgun.
An attitude or a manner adopted to mask one's true feelings or to protect one from perceived or real danger.
Physics
a. Any of the set of hypothetical spherical surfaces centered on the nucleus of an atom that contain the orbitals of electrons having the same principal quantum number.
b. An analogous pattern of protons and neutrons within a nucleus.
a. A usually sleeveless and collarless, typically knit blouse, often worn under another top.
b. The outermost layer of a lined garment such as a coat or jacket: a parka with a waterproof shell.
Computer Science A program that works with the operating system as a command processor, used to enter commands and initiate their execution.
A company or corporation with few or no assets or independent operations that is acquired by another company in order to allow the acquiring company to conduct business under the acquired company's legitimate legal standing.

verb shelled, shell·ing, shells

verb, transitive

a. To remove the shell of; shuck: shell oysters.
b. To remove from a shell: shell peas.
To separate the kernels of (corn) from the cob.
To fire shells at; bombard.
a. To defeat decisively.
b. Baseball To hit the pitches of (a pitcher) hard and with regularity: shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning.