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shell
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- pronunciation:
- shel
- parts of speech:
- noun, verb
- features:
- Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a hard outer covering of certain animals, such clams, snails, or oysters. This type of shell is made by the animal itself, and it is used by the animal to protect itself.
- similar words:
- armor, shield
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| definition 2: |
a protective outer layer of the body of an animal, such as a turtle, beetle, lobster, or crab.
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| definition 3: |
a natural structure that protects and completely surrounds certain developing animals, such as birds or reptiles.
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| definition 4: |
a hard, or somewhat hard, natural structure that surrounds and protects a nut or fruit.
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| definition 5: |
any hard outer layer that holds something together or shields against harm, such as the outer walls a ship.
This canoe has an aluminum shell.- similar words:
- shield
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| definition 6: |
a piece of ammunition used in a cannon or gun.
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| definition 7: |
a piece of dough that is shaped in order to hold a filling, such as the filling for a pie or taco. A shell becomes crisp when it is baked or fried.
Pour the mixture into the pie shell. |
| related words: |
exterior, missile, outside |
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| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
shells, shelling, shelled |
| definition 1: |
to remove the shell or shells of.
We shelled the crabs. |
| definition 2: |
to attack by firing shells from cannon or large guns.
They shelled the enemy position for hours.- similar words:
- bombard
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| derivations: |
shell-less (adj.), shell-like (adj.) |
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