1
- the hard protective outer case of a mollusc or crustacean（软体或甲壳纲动物的）壳：
cowrie shells
宝贝壳
mass noun the technique of carving shell.壳雕技术。
1.1
- the thin outer covering of an animal's egg, which is hard and fragile in that of a bird but leathery in that of a reptile蛋壳。
1.2
- the outer case of a nut kernel or seed果壳; 荚。
1.3
- the carapace of a tortoise, turtle, or terrapin甲鱼壳, 龟甲。
1.4
- the wing cases of a beetle（甲虫的）鞘翅。
1.5
- the integument of an insect pupa or chrysalis（蛹或茧的）外皮
1.6
one's shell
figurative used with reference to a state of shyness or introversion〈喻〉害羞; 内向：she'll soon come out of her shell with the right encouragement.
给她适当的鼓励, 她很快就会不再羞怯的。
2
- something resembling or likened to a shell because of its shape or its function as an outer case壳状物：
pasta shells
贝壳形意式面
baked pastry shells filled with cheese.
酥皮奶酪馅饼。
2.1
- the walls of an unfinished or gutted building or other structure（建筑物的）壳体, 空壳：
the hotel was a shell, the roof having collapsed completely.
旅馆成了废空壳, 屋顶完全倒塌了。
2.2
- figurative an outer form without substance〈喻〉空躯壳：
he was a shell of the man he had been previously.
他已经不是过去的他了, 成了一副空躯壳。
2.3
- a light racing boat轻型赛艇。
2.4
- the metal framework of a vehicle body（车身的）外壳。
2.5
- an inner or roughly made coffin内棺; 粗制棺材。
2.6
- the handguard of a sword（剑的）护手。
2.7
- Physics each of a set of orbitals around the nucleus of an atom, occupied or able to be occupied by electrons of similar energies【物理】壳层。
3
- an explosive artillery projectile or bomb炮弹; 炸弹：
the sound of the shell passing over, followed by the explosion
炮弹嗖的一声飞过, 接着是爆炸声
as modifier shell holes.弹孔。
3.1
- a hollow metal or paper case used as a container for fireworks, explosives, or cartridges烟花筒; 弹壳; 弹药筒。
3.2
- N. Amer. a cartridge〈北美〉子弹。
4
- Computing short for SHELL PROGRAM.【计算机】SHELL PROGRAM的简称。
with obj.
1
- bombard with shells炮轰：
the guns started shelling their positions.
大炮开始轰击他们的阵地。
1.1
- （一般作 be shelled）Baseball score heavily against (an opposing pitcher or team)【棒球】从（对方投手或球队）大量得分。
2
- remove the shell or pod from (a nut or seed)剥壳; 脱壳; 脱粒：
they were shelling peas
他们在剥豌豆
as adj. shelled shelled Brazil nuts去壳巴西果。
派生词
shelled
adjective软壳蛤
shell-less
adjectiveshelly
adjective词源
Old English scell (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schel 'scale, shell', also to SCALE1. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent. in sense 2.
短语动词
shell something out （或shell out）
- informal pay a specified amount of money, especially an amount that is resented as being excessive〈非正式〉付款（尤指付因认为过多而不愿付的款）：
he has had to shell out £500 a week hiring a bodyguard.
他得每周付出500英镑雇佣一个保镖。