adj
Uncommon
Shelly
SHEH-lee
Shelly (adj) means Made up of the shells of dead sea creatures. Example: “The beach was shelly underfoot, crunching with every step.”
adj
1
Made up of the shells of dead sea creatures.
"After all, we live today in an unusual world: sea level is low, the continents are dispersed, ice occupies the poles, and the shelly fauna of the oceans is composed largely of aragonite rather than calcite."
— Karl W. Flessa, Learning from the Dead (2000)
"The beach was shelly underfoot, crunching with every step."
2
Looking like, or covered with, a shell.
"The tide pool was full of shelly little creatures clinging to the rocks."
How to use Shelly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of shells, or looking like a shell.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- shellier
- Superlative
- shelliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The beach was _____ underfoot, crunching with every step.
Etymology
From shell plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
Rhymes for Shelly
See all rhymes for Shelly →Frequently asked questions
What does “Shelly” mean?
The word “Shelly” means made up of the shells of dead sea creatures. In plain terms, full of shells, or looking like a shell.
How do you pronounce “Shelly”?
“Shelly” is pronounced SHEH-lee (/ˈʃɛli/ in IPA).
How do you use “Shelly” in a sentence?
Here is “Shelly” used in a sentence: “The beach was shelly underfoot, crunching with every step.”
What part of speech is “Shelly”?
“Shelly” is an adjective.
Is “Shelly” a common word?
“Shelly” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Shelly” have?
“Shelly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made up of the shells of dead sea creatures.
