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Shell: meaning, definitions and examples

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shell

 

[ ʃɛl ]

Noun / Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

sea creature

A hard protective outer covering, typically made of calcium carbonate, secreted by certain marine organisms such as mollusks, bivalves, and gastropods.

Synonyms

carapace, exoskeleton, test

Examples of usage

  • The hermit crab uses a shell for protection.
  • The snail retreats into its shell when threatened.
  • Seashells can be found on the beach.
Context #2 | Noun

ammunition

A metal or cardboard case used to contain the explosive and projectiles in a firearm.

Synonyms

ammunition, bullet casing, cartridge

Examples of usage

  • The soldier loaded the shell into the shotgun.
  • He collected spent shells after target practice.
Context #3 | Verb

remove outer covering

To remove the outer covering or husk from a nut, seed, or egg.

Synonyms

husk, peel, skin

Examples of usage

  • She shelled the pistachios before serving.
  • He shucked the corn to remove the husk.

Translations

Translations of the word "shell" in other languages:

🇵🇹 concha

🇮🇳 शेल (शरीर का बाहरी आवरण)

🇩🇪 Schale

🇮🇩 kulit

🇺🇦 оболонка

🇵🇱 muszla

🇯🇵 殻 (かく)

🇫🇷 coquille

🇪🇸 concha

🇹🇷 kabuk

🇰🇷 껍데기

🇸🇦 صدفة

🇨🇿 skořápka

🇸🇰 škrupina

🇨🇳 壳 (ké)

🇸🇮 lupina

🇮🇸 skel

🇰🇿 қабық

🇬🇪 ნიჟარა

🇦🇿 qabıq

🇲🇽 concha

Etymology

The word 'shell' originated from Old English 'scell', which meant a 'seashell' or 'eggshell'. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the outer covering or case of various objects. The use of 'shell' to refer to ammunition dates back to the late 16th century. Today, 'shell' is a versatile word with diverse meanings in different contexts.

See also: shellfish, shelling, shells.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,857, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.