shell
Shell (noun) means the hard outer covering of certain animals, such as snails, crabs, and turtles, or of eggs and nuts. Example: “The tortoise pulled its head into its shell at the first sign of danger.”
How to Use Shell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hard protective covering (on an animal, egg, or nut); an explosive artillery round; an empty outer structure; or, in computing, the command-line program you type into.
In business, a "shell company" means an entity that legally exists but does no real business — don't confuse this figurative sense with the physical covering.
Word Forms
shelled past tense, shells plural, shells singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tortoise pulled its head into its _____ at the first sign of danger.
Etymology
From Old English sċell, an ancient Germanic word meaning "shell" or "husk," related to modern "shale" and "scale."
Related Words
Rhymes for shell
See all rhymes for shell →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “shell” mean?
The word “shell” means the hard outer covering of certain animals, such as snails, crabs, and turtles, or of eggs and nuts. In plain terms, a hard protective covering (on an animal, egg, or nut); an explosive artillery round; an empty outer structure; or, in computing, the command-line program you type into.
How do you pronounce “shell”?
“Shell” is pronounced shehl (/ʃɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shell” in a sentence?
Here is “shell” used in a sentence: “The tortoise pulled its head into its shell at the first sign of danger.”
What part of speech is “shell”?
Depending on how it is used, “shell” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shell” come from?
The word “shell” comes from Old English. From Old English sċell, an ancient Germanic word meaning "shell" or "husk," related to modern "shale" and "scale.".
Is “shell” a common word?
“Shell” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “shell” have?
“Shell” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hard outer covering of certain animals, such as snails, crabs, and turtles, or of eggs and nuts.
What is the difference between a shell and a husk?
A shell is a hard outer covering, such as that of a snail, crab, turtle, egg, or nut. A husk is the dry, often papery outer covering of some seeds and fruits, like the layers around an ear of corn. The key contrast is hardness: shells are rigid, while husks are usually dry and fibrous.
What is the difference between a shell and a bullet?
In military use, a shell is an explosive projectile fired from artillery, designed to detonate at or near its target. A bullet is a solid projectile fired from small arms such as rifles and pistols, and it does not explode. Confusingly, the cartridges used in shotguns are also called shells, which is a separate, everyday use of the word.
What is the difference between a shell and a carapace?
Shell is the general word for the hard outer covering of animals such as snails, crabs, and turtles. Carapace is the technical term for the hard upper shield covering the back of animals like turtles and crustaceans. Every carapace is part of a shell, but shell also covers eggs, nuts, and the undersides of such animals.