plural shells
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: such 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
Thomas Carlyle
d
: an edible outer layer of usually baked or fried pastry dough or bread for holding a filling
a pastry shell
a taco salad in a tortilla shell
e
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 case (as of metal, paper, or plastic) that holds the charge of powder and shot or bullet used with breech-loading small arms
a shotgun shell
compare cartridge
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
shelled; shelling; shells
1
a
: to take out of a natural enclosing cover (such as a shell, husk, pod, or capsule)
shell peanuts
b
: to separate the kernels of (corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk
3
: to score heavily against (someone, such as an opposing pitcher in baseball)
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)
Synonyms
Examples of shell in a Sentence
Noun
the shell of a crab
We collected shells at the beach.
We're going to have stuffed shells for dinner.
Verb
They shelled the enemy troops.
The town was shelled during the battle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
Outstanding breathability ⊕ Buffers wind ⊕ Extended sizing ⊗ Not the warmest
A winter-weight wind shell, the Proton blocks knifelike gusts without trapping sweat.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2024
Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
In Lebanon, a message to Iran Israeli forces shell buildings in Beirut, on Oct. 6, 2024.Ugur Yildirim—dia images/Getty Images
Iran may be 1,100 miles from Israel, but with Hezbollah—conceived, armed, and partly directed by Tehran—the Islamic Republic has been essentially on its northern doorstep.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shell 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Pyongyang was already supplying Moscow with weapons: according to The Times of London, half of Russia’s shells used in the war have come from North Korea.
—Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
Outstanding breathability ⊕ Buffers wind ⊕ Extended sizing ⊗ Not the warmest
A winter-weight wind shell, the Proton blocks knifelike gusts without trapping sweat.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
During that same time span, the Buffalo Bills shell two future mid-round selections to the Cleveland Browns for the services of another veteran wideout in Amari Cooper.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
In Lebanon, a message to Iran Israeli forces shell buildings in Beirut, on Oct. 6, 2024.Ugur Yildirim—dia images/Getty Images
Iran may be 1,100 miles from Israel, but with Hezbollah—conceived, armed, and partly directed by Tehran—the Islamic Republic has been essentially on its northern doorstep.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shell
Dictionary Entries Near shell
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shell. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shell
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a hard stiff covering of an animal (as a turtle or beetle)
b
: the outer covering of an egg (as of a bird or reptile)
2
: the outer covering of a nut, fruit, or seed especially when hard or tough
3
: shell material or shells especially of mollusks
4
: something like a shell: as
a
: a framework or outside structure
b
: a bottom crust for a pie
a pastry shell
c
: a concrete arched roof (as over an outdoor stage)
a band shell
5
: a way of behaving that hides one's feelings
coming out of one's shell
6
: a shell-bearing mollusk
7
: a narrow light racing boat rowed by one or more persons using long oars
8
a
: an object filled with an explosive to be shot from cannon
b
: a metal or paper case holding the explosive charge and shot or bullet used in small arms
shell
adjective
shell
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to remove from a natural enclosing cover (as a shell or husk) : shuck
shell peas
b
: to remove the grains from (as an ear of corn)
2
: to shoot shells at or upon
3
: to fall out of the pod or husk
4
: to collect shells (as from a beach)
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