Shell

Quick meaning: Shell is a noun meaning A hard external covering of an animal.

Meaning

A hard external covering of an animal.

More Meanings

1. The hard calcareous covering of a bird egg.
2. One of the outer layers of skin of an onion.
3. (botany) The hard external covering of various plant seed forms.
4. (geology) The accreted mineral formed around a hollow geode.
5. (weaponry) The casing of a self-contained single-unit artillery projectile.
6. (weaponry) The cartridge of a breechloading firearm; a load; a bullet; a round.
7. (weaponry) A hollow, usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a siege mortar or a smoothbore cannon. It contains an explosive substance designed to be ignited by a fuse or by percussion at the target site so that it will burst and scatter at high velocity its contents and fragments. Formerly called a bomb.

Example Sentences

when Jubal struck the chorded shell

The restaurant served caramelized onion shells.

The setback left him a mere shell; he was never the same again.

He's lost so much weight from illness; he's a shell of his former self.

Word Forms

• shells
• shelling
• shelled

Synonyms for shell

Depending on context, synonyms include shell-like, case, blast, scale, carapace, plate.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include carapace, pod, eggshell, plate, blast, casing.

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