shell

Noun

• the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod

• a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)

• the housing or outer covering of something
  • the clock has a walnut case
    

• a very light narrow racing boat

• a rigid covering that envelops an object
  • the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice
    

• the exterior covering of a bird's egg

• the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts

• hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles

• the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals

• ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

Verb

• remove the husks from
  • husk corn
    

• remove from its shell or outer covering
  • shell the legumes
    
  • shell mussels
    

• come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
  • Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
    
  • We beat the competition
    
  • Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
    

• look for and collect shells by the seashore

• hit the pitches of hard and regularly
  • He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning
    

• fall out of the pod or husk
  • The corn shelled
    

• create by using explosives
  • blast a passage through the mountain
    

• use explosives on
  • The enemy has been shelling us all day
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  plate , scale , case , casing , racing shell , eggshell , carapace , cuticle , shield , husk , beat , beat out , crush , trounce , vanquish , blast