Webster's English Dictionaryshell
1. shell \'shel\ \'sheld\ \'shel-.w*rk\ \'shel-e-\ n [ME, fr. OE sciell; akin to OE scealu shell, ON skel, L si]lex pebble, flint, Gk skallein to hoe 1a: a hard rigid usu. largely calcareous covering of an animal 1b: the hard or tough outer covering of an egg esp. of a bird 2: the covering or outside part of a fruit or seed esp. when hard or fibrou s 3: shell material (as of mollusks or turtles) or their substance 4: something that resembles a shell : as 4a: a framework or exterior structure; esp : a building with an unf inished interior 4b: an external case or outside covering 4c: an edible case for holding a filling 4d: a reinforced concrete arched or domed roof that is used primarily over large unpartitioned areas 4e: a small beer glass 5: a thin hard layer of rock 6: a shell-bearing mollusk 7: an impersonal attitude or manner that conceals the presence or absence o f feeling 8: a narrow light racing boat propelled by one or more oarsmen 9: any of the spaces occupied by the orbits of a group of electrons of appr oximately equal energy surrounding the nucleus of an atom 10a: a hollow projectile for cannon containing an explosive bursting charge 10b: a metal or paper case which holds the charge of powder and shot or bul let used with breech-loading small arms - shell aj 2. shell vt 1a: to take out of a natural enclosing cover (as a shell, husk, pod, capsu le) : strip, break off, or remove the shell of 1b: to separate the kernels of (as an ear of Indian corn, wheat, or oats) from the cob, ear, or husk 2: to throw shells at, upon, or into : BOMBARD 1: to fall or scale off in thin pieces 2: to cast the shell or exterior covering : fall out of the pod or husk 3: to gather shells (as from a beach) : collect shells