1.  shell(n = noun.artifact) - ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun;
is a kind of ammo, ammunition
has particulars: artillery shell, shotgun shell, shrapnel, tank shell, whizbang, whizbang shell, whizzbang
Derived form verb shell₁

2.  shell(n = noun.substance) - the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals;
is a kind of animal material
has particulars: mother-of-pearl, nacre
Derived form verb shell₅

3.  shell(n = noun.animal) carapace, cuticle, shield - hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles;
is a kind of scute
is a part of turtle, arthropod, mollusc, mollusk, shellfish
has particulars: cuticula

4.  shell(n = noun.plant) - the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts;
is a kind of hull
has particulars: nutshell
Derived forms verb shell₈, verb shell₇, verb shell₃

5.  shell(n = noun.object) eggshell - the exterior covering of a bird's egg;
is a kind of cover, covering, natural covering
is a part of egg, eggs

6.  shell(n = noun.object) - a rigid covering that envelops an object; "the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice"
is a kind of cover, covering, natural covering

7.  shell(n = noun.artifact) racing shell - a very light narrow racing boat;
is a kind of racing boat
has parts: sliding seat
has particulars: racing skiff, single shell, scull

8.  shell(n = noun.artifact) case, casing - the housing or outer covering of something; "the clock has a walnut case"
is a kind of housing
is a part of grandfather clock, longcase clock
has particulars: boot, gear box, gear case, gearbox, jacket

9.  shell(n = noun.artifact) plate, scale - a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners);
is a kind of shield
has particulars: armor plate, armor plating, armour plate, plate armor, plate armour, horseshoe, shoe, shell plating

10.  shell(n = noun.animal) - the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod;
is a kind of cover, covering, natural covering
has particulars: valve, valve, scallop shell, oyster shell, phragmacone, phragmocone, seashell, clamshell
Derived forms verb shell₇, verb shell₅

1.  shell(v = verb.competition) blast - use explosives on; "The enemy has been shelling us all day"
is one way to bomb, bombard
Derived forms noun shell₁, noun shelling₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

2.  shell(v = verb.creation) blast - create by using explosives; "blast a passage through the mountain"
is one way to create, make
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something

3.  shell(v = verb.contact) - fall out of the pod or husk; "The corn shelled"
is one way to emerge
Derived form noun shell₄
Sample sentences: Something ----s

4.  shell(v = verb.contact) - hit the pitches of hard and regularly; "He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning"
is one way to hit
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s somebody

5.  shell(v = verb.contact) - look for and collect shells by the seashore;
is one way to gather
Derived forms noun shell₁₀, noun shell₂
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s

6.  shell(v = verb.competition) beat, beat out, crush, trounce, vanquish - come out better in a competition, race, or conflict; "Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship"; "We beat the competition"; "Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game"
is one way to defeat, get the better of, overcome
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody

7.  shell(v = verb.change) - remove from its shell or outer covering; "shell the legumes"; "shell mussels"
is one way to remove, take, take away, withdraw
Derived forms noun shell₁₀, noun shell₄, noun sheller₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

8.  shell(v = verb.change) husk - remove the husks from; "husk corn"
is one way to remove, take, take away, withdraw
Derived form noun shell₄
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

1.  A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal. [1913 Webster]
"Think him as a serpent's egg, . . .
And kill him in the shell." [1913 Webster]

2.  A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuse or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb. [1913 Webster]

3.  The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms. [1913 Webster]

4.  Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house. [1913 Webster]

5.  A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one. Knight. [1913 Webster]

6.  An instrument of music, as a lyre, -- the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell. [1913 Webster]
"When Jubal struck the chorded shell." [1913 Webster]

7.  An engraved copper roller used in print works. [1913 Webster]

8.  The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc. [1913 Webster]

9.  The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve. [1913 Webster]

10.  A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell. [1913 Webster]

11.  Something similar in form or action to an ordnance shell; [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

12.  A concave rough cast-iron tool in which a convex lens is ground to shape. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

13.  A gouge bit or shell bit. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

1.  To strip or break off the shell of; to take out of the shell, pod, etc.; as, to shell nuts or pease; to shell oysters. [1913 Webster]

2.  To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk. [1913 Webster]

3.  To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town. [1913 Webster]

1.  To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc. [1913 Webster]

2.  To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling. [1913 Webster]

3.  To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping. [1913 Webster]

shell, n. & v.
--n.
1 a the hard outer case of many marine molluscs (cockle shell). b the esp. hard but fragile outer covering of a bird's, reptile's, etc. egg. c the usu. hard outer case of a nut-kernel, seed, etc. d the carapace of a tortoise, turtle, etc. e the wing-case or pupa-case of many insects etc.
2 a an explosive projectile or bomb for use in a big gun or mortar. b a hollow metal or paper case used as a container for fireworks, explosives, cartridges, etc. c US a cartridge.
3 a mere semblance or outer form without substance.
4 any of several things resembling a shell in being an outer case, esp.: a a light racing-boat. b a hollow pastry case. c the metal framework of a vehicle body etc. d the walls of an unfinished or gutted building, ship, etc. e an inner or roughly-made coffin. f a building shaped like a conch. g the handguard of a sword.
5 a group of electrons with almost equal energy in an atom.
--v.
1 tr. remove the shell or pod from.
2 tr. bombard (a town, troops, etc.) with shells.
3 tr. provide or cover with a shell or shells.
4 intr. (usu. foll. by off) (of metal etc.) come off in scales.
5 intr. (of a seed etc.) be released from a shell.

Idiom:
come out of one's shell cease to be shy; become communicative. shell-bit a gouge-shaped boring bit. shell company an unimportant firm made the subject of a take-over bid because of its status on the Stock Exchange etc. shell egg an egg still in its shell, not dried etc. shell-heap (or -mound) hist. a kitchen midden. shell-jacket an army officer's tight-fitting undress jacket reaching to the waist. shell-lime fine quality lime produced by burning sea shells. shell-money shells used as a medium of exchange, e.g. wampum. shell out (also absol.) colloq.
1 pay (money).
2 hand over (a required sum).
shell-out n.
1 the act of shelling out.
2 a game of snooker etc. played by three or more people. shell-pink a delicate pale pink. shell-shock a nervous breakdown resulting from exposure to battle. shell-shocked suffering from shell-shock. shell-work ornamentation consisting of shells cemented on to wood etc.

Derivative:
shelled adj. shell-less adj. shell-like adj. shellproof adj. (in sense 2a of n.). shelly adj.

Etymology:
OE sc(i)ell f. Gmc: cf. SCALE(1)

VB  attack, assault, assail, invade, set upon, fall upon, charge, impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists, assume the offensive, take the offensive, be the aggressor, become the aggressor, strike the first blow, draw first blood, throw the first stone at, lift a hand against, draw the sword against, take up the cudgels, advance against, march against, march upon, harry, come on, show fight, strike at, poke at, thrust at, aim a blow at, deal a blow at, give one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick, have a cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at, have a shy at, be down upon, pounce upon, fall foul of, pitch into, launch out against, bait, slap on the face, make a thrust at, make a pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at, bear down upon, close with, come to close quarters, bring to bay, ride full tilt against, attack tooth and nail, go at hammer and tongs, let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly at, hawk at, have at, let out at, make a dash, make a rush at, strike home, drive one hard, press one hard, be hard upon, run down, strike at the root of, lay about one, run amuck, aim at, draw a bead on, fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at, shoot at, pop at, level at, let off a gun at, open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside into, fire a volley, fire red-hot shot, spring a mine, throw a stone, throw stones at, stone, lapidate, pelt, hurl at, hurl against, hurl at the head of, rock beset, besiege, beleaguer, lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery, sap, mine, storm, board, scale the walls, cut and thrust, bayonet, butt, kick, strike, whip, assail, impugn, malign (detract), bomb, rocket, blast.

N  arm, arms, weapon, deadly weapon, armament, armaments, armature, panoply, stand of arms, armor, armory, apparatus belli, ammunition, powder, powder and shot, cartridge, ball cartridge, cartouche, fireball, villainous saltpeter, dumdum bullet, explosive, gunpowder, guncotton, mercury fulminate, picrates, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, PETN, high explosive, trinitrotoluene, TNT, dynamite, melinite, cordite, lyddite, plastic explosive, plastique, pyroxyline, sword, saber, broadsword, cutlass, falchion, scimitar, cimeter, brand, whinyard, bilbo, glaive, glave, rapier, skean, Toledo, Ferrara, tuck, claymore, adaga, baselard, Lochaber ax, skean dhu, creese, kris, dagger, dirk, banger, poniard, stiletto, stylet, dudgeon, bayonet, sword-bayonet, sword-stick, side arms, foil, blade, steel, ax, bill, pole-ax, battle-ax, gisarme, halberd, partisan, tomahawk, bowie knife, ataghan, attaghan, yataghan, yatacban, assagai, assegai, good sword, trusty sword, naked sword, cold steel, club, mace, truncheon, staff, bludgeon, cudgel, life preserver, shillelah, sprig, hand staff, quarter staff, bat, cane, stick, knuckle duster, billy, blackjack, sandbag, waddy, gun, piece, firearms, artillery, ordnance, siege train, battering train, park, battery, cannon, gun of position, heavy gun, field piece, mortar, howitzer, carronade, culverin, basilisk, falconet, jingal, swivel, pederero, bouche a feu, petard, torpedo, mitrailleur, mitrailleuse, infernal machine, smooth bore, rifled cannon, Armstrong gun, Lancaster gun, Paixhan gun, Whitworth gun, Parrott gun, Krupp gun, Gatling gun, Maxim gun, machine gun, pompom, ten pounder, small arms, musket, musketry, firelock, fowling piece, rifle, fusil, caliver, carbine, blunderbuss, musketoon, Brown Bess, matchlock, harquebuss, arquebus, haguebut, pistol, postolet, petronel, small bore, breach-loader, muzzle-loader, revolver, repeater, Minis rifle, Enfield rifle, Flobert rifle, Westley Richards rifle, Snider rifle, Martini-Henry rifle, Lee-Metford rifle, Lee-Enfield rifle, Mauser rifle, magazine rifle, needle gun, chassepot, wind gun, air gun, automatic gun, automatic pistol, escopet, escopette, gunflint, gun- lock, hackbut, shooter, shooting iron, six-shooter, shotgun, Uzzi, assault rifle, Kalashnikov, bow, crossbow, balister, catapult, sling, battering ram, gunnery, ballistics, missile, bolt, projectile, shot, ball, grape, grape shot, canister shot, bar shot, cannon shot, langrel shot, langrage shot, round shot, chain shot, balista, ballista, slung shot, trebucbet, trebucket, bullet, slug, stone, brickbat, grenade, shell, bomb, carcass, rocket, congreve, congreve rocket, shrapnel, mitraille, levin bolt, levin brand, thunderbolt, pike, lance, spear, spontoon, javelin, dart, jereed, jerid, arrow, reed, shaft, bolt, boomerang, harpoon, gaff, eelspear, oxgoad, weet-weet, wommerah, cattle prod, chemical mace, en flute, nervos belli pecuniam infinitam.

N  covering, cover, baldachin, baldachino, baldaquin, canopy, tilt, awning, tent, marquee, tente d'abri, umbrella, parasol, sunshade, veil (shade), shield, roof, ceiling, thatch, tile, pantile, pentile, tiling, slates, slating, leads, barrack, plafond, planchment, tiling, shed, top, lid, covercle, door, operculum, bulkhead, bandage, plaster, lint, wrapping, dossil, finger stall, coverlet, counterpane, sheet, quilt, tarpaulin, blanket, rug, drugget, housing, antimacassar, eiderdown, numdah, pillowcase, pillowslip, linoleum, saddle cloth, blanket cloth, tidy, tilpah, apishamore, integument, tegument, skin, pellicle, fleece, fell, fur, leather, shagreen, hide, pelt, peltry, cordwain, derm, robe, buffalo robe, cuticle, scarfskin, epidermis, clothing, mask, peel, crust, bark, rind, cortex, husk, shell, coat, eggshell, glume, capsule, sheath, sheathing, pod, cod, casing, case, theca, elytron, elytrum, involucrum, wrapping, wrapper, envelope, vesicle, corn husk, corn shuck, dermatology, conchology, testaceology, inunction, incrustation, superimposition, superposition, obduction, scale, veneer, facing, overlay, plate, silver plate, gold plate, copper plate, engobe, ormolu, Sheffield plate, pavement, coating, paint, varnish, plating, barrel plating, anointing, enamel, epitaxial deposition, vapor deposition, ground, whitewash, plaster, spackel, stucco, compo, cerement, ointment, covering, superimposed, overlaid, plated, cutaneous, dermal, cortical, cuticular, tegumentary, skinny, scaly, squamous, covered, imbricated, loricated, armor plated, ironclad, under cover, cowled, cucullate, dermatoid, encuirassed, hooded, squamiferous, tectiform, vaginate.

N  interment, burial, sepulture, inhumation, obsequies, exequies, funeral, wake, pyre, funeral pile, cremation, funeral, funeral rite, funeral solemnity, kneel, passing bell, tolling, dirge, cypress, orbit, dead march, muffled drum, mortuary, undertaker, mute, elegy, funeral, funeral oration, funeral sermon, epitaph, graveclothes, shroud, winding sheet, cerecloth, cerement, coffin, shell, sarcophagus, urn, pall, bier, hearse, catafalque, cinerary urn, grave, pit, sepulcher, tomb, vault, crypt, catacomb, mausoleum, Golgotha, house of death, narrow house, cemetery, necropolis, burial place, burial ground, grave yard, church yard, God's acre, tope, cromlech, barrow, tumulus, cairn, ossuary, bone house, charnel house, dead house, morgue, lich gate, burning ghat, crematorium, crematory, dokhma, mastaba, potter's field, stupa, Tower of Silence, sexton, gravedigger, monument, cenotaph, shrine, grave stone, head stone, tomb stone, memento mori, hatchment, stone, obelisk, pyramid, exhumation, disinterment, necropsy, autopsy, post mortem examination, zoothapsis, burried, burial, funereal, funebrial, mortuary, sepulchral, cinerary, elegiac, necroscopic, in memoriam, post obit, post mortem, beneath the sod, hic jacet, ci-git, RIP, requiescat in pace, the lone couch of his everlasting sleep, without a grave- unknell'd, uncoffin'd, and unknown, in the dark union of insensate dust, the deep cold shadow of the tomb, Special Vitality.

argus shell, ark shell, artillery shell, band shell, blank shell, boat shell, bubble shell, coat-of-mail shell, electron shell, gas shell, goroon shell, ioqua shell, lamp shell, maara shell, mask shell, moon shell, oyster shell, patty shell, pie shell, racing shell, scallop shell, scorpion shell, shell bean, shell bean plant, shell collecting, shell corporation, shell entity, shell game, shell ginger, shell jacket, shell out, shell parakeet, shell plating, shell shock, shell stitch, shotgun shell, single shell, star shell, sugar shell, tank shell, tooth shell, torpedo shell, tortoise shell, tusk shell, whizbang shell