the hard protective outer layer of an animal, insect, or plant, especially one that covers an egg, nut, seed, or some other part, a casing or housing that encloses something, a hollow projectile for firing from a gun or mortar

come out of one's shell, shell of a person, shell game

shell out, shell shock, shell company

Formal and Informal Expressions of shell

In different contexts, you can replace 'shell' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'covering, enclosure' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'case, housing' is a commonplace synonym.

shell: Explore its Definition & Usage

shell Definition

1the hard protective outer layer of an animal, insect, or plant, especially one that covers an egg, nut, seed, or some other part
2a casing or housing that encloses something
3a hollow projectile for firing from a gun or mortar

Using shell: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "shell" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The turtle retreated into its shell.
Example
The shell of the egg was cracked.
Example
The computer is housed in a sleek aluminum shell.
Example
The artillery unit fired shells at the enemy position.

shell Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for shell

Idioms Using shell

come out of one's shell
to become more sociable and outgoing
Example
After joining the drama club, she came out of her shell and made many new friends.
shell of a person
someone who is physically present but emotionally or mentally absent
Example
After the tragic accident, he became a shell of a person, unable to connect with others.
shell game
a deceptive gambling game in which a small ball or pea is quickly moved around under three small cups or shells, and the player must guess which cup it is under
Example
The street hustler tricked the tourist with a shell game.

Phrases with shell

shell out
to pay a large amount of money for something
Example
I had to shell out $500 for the car repair.
shell shock
a psychological condition caused by prolonged exposure to active warfare, especially being under bombardment
Example
Many soldiers suffered from shell shock during World War I.
shell company
a company that exists only on paper and has no office or employees but may have a bank account and engage in financial transactions
Example
The businessman used a shell company to hide his illegal activities.

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Summary: shell in Brief

The term 'shell' [ʃel] refers to a hard outer layer that protects animals, insects, plants, eggs, nuts, seeds, or other parts. It also denotes a casing or housing that encloses something, such as a computer or artillery projectile. Phrases like 'shell out' and 'shell company' extend the meaning to paying a large amount of money or creating a paper company for financial transactions. Idioms like 'come out of one's shell' and 'shell of a person' describe social and emotional states, while 'shell game' refers to a deceptive gambling game.