| Library / English Dictionary |
SHELL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles
Synonyms:
carapace; cuticle; shell; shield
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
scute (large bony or horny plate as on an armadillo or turtle or the underside of a snake)
Meronyms (substance of "shell"):
shell (the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
cuticula (the outer body wall of an insect)
Holonyms ("shell" is a part of...):
turtle (any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs for swimming)
arthropod (invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton made of chitin)
mollusc; mollusk; shellfish (invertebrate having a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a shell)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod
Classified under:
Nouns denoting animals
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
cover; covering; natural covering (a natural object that covers or envelops)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
valve (one of the paired hinged shells of certain molluscs and of brachiopods)
valve (the entire one-piece shell of a snail and certain other molluscs)
scallop shell (a shell of a scallop)
oyster shell (a shell of an oyster)
phragmacone; phragmocone (the thin conical chambered internal shell (either straight or curved) of a belemnite)
seashell (the shell of a marine organism)
clamshell (the shell of a clam)
Derivation:
shell (remove from its shell or outer covering)
shell (look for and collect shells by the seashore)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
shield (a protective covering or structure)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
shell plating (the plates covering the frame of a steel ship and corresponding to the planking of a wooden ship)
horseshoe; shoe (U-shaped plate nailed to underside of horse's hoof)
armor plate; armor plating; armour plate; plate armor; plate armour (specially hardened steel plate used to protect fortifications or vehicles from enemy fire)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
ammo; ammunition (projectiles to be fired from a gun)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
artillery shell (a shell fired by artillery)
shotgun shell (a shell containing lead shot; used in shotguns)
shrapnel (shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight)
tank shell (a shell fired by the cannon on a tank)
whizbang; whizbang shell; whizzbang (a small high-velocity shell; it makes a whizzing sound followed by a bang when it hits)
Derivation:
shell (use explosives on)
Sense 5
Meaning:
The housing or outer covering of something
Example:
the clock has a walnut case
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
housing (a protective cover designed to contain or support a mechanical component)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
boot (protective casing for something that resembles a leg)
gear box; gear case; gearbox (the shell (metal casing) in which a train of gears is sealed)
jacket (the tough metal shell casing for certain kinds of ammunition)
Holonyms ("shell" is a part of...):
grandfather clock; longcase clock (a pendulum clock enclosed in a tall narrow case)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A very light narrow racing boat
Synonyms:
racing shell; shell
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
racing boat (a boat propelled by oarsmen and designed for racing)
Meronyms (parts of "shell"):
sliding seat (rower's seat that slides fore and aft)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
scull (a racing shell that is propelled by sculls)
racing skiff; single shell (a shell for a single oarsman)
Sense 7
Meaning:
A rigid covering that envelops an object
Example:
the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
cover; covering; natural covering (a natural object that covers or envelops)
Sense 8
Meaning:
The exterior covering of a bird's egg
Synonyms:
eggshell; shell
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
cover; covering; natural covering (a natural object that covers or envelops)
Holonyms ("shell" is a part of...):
egg; eggs (oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food)
Sense 9
Meaning:
The hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
hull (dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
nutshell (the shell around the kernel of a nut)
Derivation:
shell (remove the husks from)
shell (remove from its shell or outer covering)
shell (fall out of the pod or husk)
Sense 10
Meaning:
The material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("shell" is a kind of...):
animal material (material derived from animals)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "shell"):
mother-of-pearl; nacre (the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell)
Holonyms ("shell" is a substance of...):
carapace; cuticle; shell; shield (hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles)
Derivation:
shell (look for and collect shells by the seashore)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they shell ... he / she / it shells
Past simple: shelled
Past participle: shelled
-ing form: shelling
Sense 1
Meaning:
Remove the husks from
Example:
husk corn
Synonyms:
husk; shell
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
shell (the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Remove from its shell or outer covering
Example:
shell mussels
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shell"):
pod (take something out of its shell or pod)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
shell (the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod)
shell (the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts)
sheller (a worker who removes shells (as of peas or oysters))
Sense 3
Meaning:
Come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
Example:
Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
Synonyms:
beat; beat out; crush; shell; trounce; vanquish
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
defeat; get the better of; overcome (win a victory over)
"Shell" entails doing...:
win (be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious)
Verb group:
beat; circumvent; outfox; outsmart; outwit; overreach (beat through cleverness and wit)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shell"):
bat; clobber; cream; drub; lick; thrash (beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight)
outplay (excel or defeat in a game)
immobilise; immobilize (make defenseless)
checkmate; mate (place an opponent's king under an attack from which it cannot escape and thus ending the game)
overmaster; overpower; overwhelm (overcome by superior force)
outfight (to fight better than; get the better of)
best; outdo; outflank; scoop; trump (get the better of)
get over; master; overcome; subdue; surmount (get on top of; deal with successfully)
exceed; outdo; outgo; outmatch; outperform; outstrip; surmount; surpass (be or do something to a greater degree)
cheat; chicane; chouse; jockey; screw; shaft (defeat someone through trickery or deceit)
get the jump (be there first)
rout; spread-eagle; spreadeagle (defeat disastrously)
get the best; have the best; overcome (overcome, usually through no fault or weakness of the person that is overcome)
whomp (beat overwhelmingly)
mop up; pip; rack up; whip; worst (defeat thoroughly)
eliminate (remove from a contest or race)
walk over (beat easily)
outpoint; outscore (score more points than one's opponents)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sense 4
Meaning:
Use explosives on
Example:
The enemy has been shelling us all day
Synonyms:
blast; shell
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
bomb; bombard (throw bombs at or attack with bombs)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shell"):
crump (bombard with heavy shells)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
shell (ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun)
shelling (the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Look for and collect shells by the seashore
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
gather (look for (food) in nature)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
shell (the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod)
shell (the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Hit the pitches of hard and regularly
Example:
He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
hit (cause to move by striking)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 7
Meaning:
Fall out of the pod or husk
Example:
The corn shelled
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
emerge (come out into view, as from concealment)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Derivation:
shell (the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts)
Sense 8
Meaning:
Create by using explosives
Example:
blast a passage through the mountain
Synonyms:
blast; shell
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "shell" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Context examples:
Previous studies of π1 Gruis found a shell of material 0.9 light-years away from the central star, thought to have been ejected around 20 000 years ago.
(Giant Bubbles on Red Giant Star’s Surface, ESO)
A tablet whose outer shell is covered with a substance.
(Coated Tablet Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)
The stranger walked heavily and with a measured stride, while the English knight advanced as briskly as though there was no iron shell to weigh down the freedom of his limbs.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Free Radical Formation involves production in normal or pathological processes of chemically unstable, short half-life and highly reactive molecules carrying at least one unpaired or 'free' electron in the outermost electron shell.
(Free Radical Formation, NCI Thesaurus)
The shell consists of two concave pieces of wafer made of flour and water.
(Cachet Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)
Mycroft took snuff from a tortoise-shell box, and brushed away the wandering grains from his coat front with a large, red silk handkerchief.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Blasts of radiation and winds from newborn stars push these PAHs into a spherical shells that look like green bubbles in Spitzer's images.
(Citizen Scientists Discover Yellow "Space Balls", NASA)
Dust is distributed throughout the nebula, but there is a significant drop in the amount of dust at the rim of the inner shell, where it seems that it is being destroyed.
(The Strange Structures of the Saturn Nebula, ESO)
While pulsars are often behind these gamma rays in our galaxy, other sources can be as well, including the outer shells of the supernova remnants, X-ray binary stars and star-formation regions.
(Pulse of a Dead Star Powers Intense Gamma Rays, NASA)
To their surprise, when the cells made the Arc protein, it clumped together into a form that resembled a viral capsid, the shell that contains a virus’ genetic information.
(Memory gene goes viral, National Institutes of Health)
