a hard rigid covering of an animal, e.g. a turtle, oyster, or beetle, often largely made up of calcium
the hard or tough outer covering of an egg, esp a bird's egg
a seashell
shells or material of which they are made
an ornament made of shell
the covering or outside part of a fruit or seed, esp when hard or fibrous
something resembling a shell, e.g.:
a framework or exterior structure; esp the outer frame of a building that is unfinished or has been destroyed, or the bodywork of a vehicle
an edible case for holding a filling
a pastry shell
a projectile for a large gun containing an explosive bursting charge
a metal or paper case that holds the charge in cartridges, fireworks, etc
NAmer a cartridge
a narrow light racing boat propelled by one or more rowers
any of various spherical regions surrounding the nucleus of an atom at various distances from it and each occupied by a group of electrons of approximately equal energy
a hollow form devoid of substance
mere effigies and shells of men — Thomas Carlyle
to become less shy or reserved and more communicative
to become reserved and uncommunicative