a hard outer covering of an animal, as the hard case of a mollusk, or either half of the case of a bivalve mollusk.
any of various objects resembling such a covering, as in shape or in being more or less concave or hollow.
the material constituting any of various coverings of this kind.
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the hard exterior of an egg.
the usually hard, outer covering of a seed, fruit, or the like, as the hard outside portion of a nut, the pod of peas, etc.
a hard, protecting or enclosing case or cover.
an attitude or manner of reserve that usually conceals one's emotions, thoughts, etc.: One could not penetrate his shell.
a hollow projectile for a cannon, mortar, etc., filled with an explosive charge designed to explode during flight, upon impact, or after penetration.
a metallic cartridge used in small arms and small artillery pieces.
a metal or paper cartridge, as for use in a shotgun.
a cartridgelike pyrotechnic device that explodes in the air.
shells,Italian Cooking. small pieces of pasta having the shape of a shell.
the lower pastry crust of a pie, tart, or the like, baked before the filling is added.
Computers. a program providing a menu-driven or graphical user interface designed to simplify use of the operating system, as in loading application programs.
Physics. any of up to seven energy levels on which an electron may exist within an atom, the energies of the electrons on the same level being equal and on different levels being unequal.a group of nucleons of approximately the same energy.
a light, long, narrow racing boat, for rowing by one or more persons.
the outer part of a finished garment that has a lining, especially a detachable lining.
a woman's sleeveless blouse or sweater, especially one meant for wear under a suit jacket.
Nautical. the plating, planking, or the like, covering the ribs and forming the exterior hull of a vessel.