1. (

• shell

) ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun ;

2. (

• shell

) the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals ;

3. (

• carapace ,
• shell ,
• cuticle ,
• shield

) hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles ;

4. (

• shell

) the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts ;

5. (

• shell ,
• eggshell

) the exterior covering of a bird's egg ;

6. (

• shell ,

) a rigid covering that envelops an object; "the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice" ;

7. (

• shell ,
• racing_shell

) a very light narrow racing boat ;

8. (

• shell ,
• case ,
• casing ,

) the housing or outer covering of something; "the clock has a walnut case" ;

9. (

• plate ,
• scale ,
• shell ,

) a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners) ;

10. (

• shell ,

) the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod ;

1. (

• blast ,
• shell

) use explosives on; "The enemy has been shelling us all day" ;

2. (

• blast ,
• shell

) create by using explosives; "blast a passage through the mountain" ;

3. (

• shell ,

) fall out of the pod or husk; "The corn shelled" ;

4. (

• shell ,

) hit the pitches of hard and regularly; "He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning" ;

5. (

• shell ,

) look for and collect shells by the seashore ;

6. (

• beat ,
• beat_out ,
• crush ,
• shell ,
• 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" ;

7. (

• shell

) remove from its shell or outer covering; "shell the legumes"; "shell mussels" ;

8. (

• husk ,
• shell ,

) remove the husks from; "husk corn" ;