Collins English-English Dictionary

shell [ʃεl]

1. 1. n the protective calcareous or membranous outer layer of an egg, esp a bird's egg

2. 2. n the hard outer covering of many molluscs that is secreted by the mantle

3. 3. n any other hard outer layer, such as the exoskeleton of many arthropods

4. 4. n the hard outer layer of some fruits, esp of nuts

5. 5. n any hard outer case

6. 6. n a hollow artillery projectile filled with explosive primed to explode either during flight, on impact, or after penetration - Compare ball

7. 7. n a small-arms cartridge comprising a hollow casing inside which is the primer, charge, and bullet

8. 8. n a pyrotechnic cartridge designed to explode in the air

9. 9. n [rowing] a very light narrow racing boat

10. 10. n the external structure of a building, esp one that is unfinished or one that has been gutted by fire

11. 11. n the basic structural case of something, such as a machine, vehicle, etc

12. 12. n [Physics] a class of electron orbits in an atom in which the electrons have the same principal quantum number and orbital angular momentum quantum number and differences in their energy are small compared with differences in energy between shells

13. 13. n an analogous energy state of nucleons in certain theories (shell models) of the structure of the atomic nucleus

14. 14. n the pastry case of a pie, flan, etc

15. 15. n a thin slab of concrete or a skeletal framework made of wood or metal that forms a shell-like roof

16. 16. n [Brit] (in some schools) a class or form

17. 17. vb to divest or be divested of a shell, husk, pod, etc

18. 18. vb to separate or be separated from an ear, husk, cob, etc

19. 19. vt. [tr] to bombard with artillery shells

20. 20. vt. See also shell out

21. 21. vt. [Etymology] Old English sciell; related to Old Norse skel shell, Gothic skalja tile, Middle Low German schelle shell; see scale¹, shale