From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishshellshell1 /ʃel/ ●●● S3 W3 noun [countable] 1 
a) the hard outer part that covers and protects an egg, nut, or seed Never buy eggs with cracked shells. peanuts roasted in their shells b) the hard protective covering of an animal such as a snail, mussel, or crab a snail shell The children were collecting shells on the beach. → seashell2 PMWa metal container, like a large bullet, which is full of an explosive substance and is fired from a large gun We ran for cover as shells dropped all around us. an exploding mortar shell3 especially American EnglishPMW a metal tube containing a bullet and an explosive substance SYN cartridge4 TTBBUILDthe outside structure of something, especially the part of a building that remains when the rest of it has been destroyedshell of the burnt-out shell of a nightclub5 → out of your shell
a) the hard outer part that covers and protects an egg, nut, or seed Never buy eggs with cracked shells. peanuts roasted in their shells b) the hard protective covering of an animal such as a snail, mussel, or crab a snail shell The children were collecting shells on the beach. → seashell2 PMWa metal container, like a large bullet, which is full of an explosive substance and is fired from a large gun We ran for cover as shells dropped all around us. an exploding mortar shell3 especially American EnglishPMW a metal tube containing a bullet and an explosive substance SYN cartridge4 TTBBUILDthe outside structure of something, especially the part of a building that remains when the rest of it has been destroyedshell of the burnt-out shell of a nightclub5 → out of your shellExamples from the Corpus
shell• A shell had exploded in the body of one of them, tearing it to pieces; others were torn and wounded.• It is decorated with electric patterns of beads and shells and rests on wooden runners.• clam shells• Throw away any eggs with cracked shells.• Despite their hardy shells they are delicate fishes and easily injured.• The turtle poked its head out of its shell.• Rebels fired mortar shells directly into the town square.• a parka with a waterproof nylon shell• Most buildings in the area are just burned-out shells.• Pour the mixture into a prepared pie shell and bake at 375° for 45 minutes.• Pour into two pie shells and bake for 15 minutes.• Before knives and scissors were imported, they used a sharp shell.• shotgun shells• Gunmen pumped dozens of rounds into Gutierrez, and more than 120 spent shells were found on the pavement, Anaya said.• taco shells• Rain falls through the shell of the echoing house.mortar shell• Unlike the solid cannon ball a mortar shell is hollow and filled with gunpowder.• Hundreds of bullets were let loose - followed by tear-gas and even mortar shells - as protesters were cut down without mercy.• The exploding mortar shell has a strength of 7.• Rifle grenades, land mines, dynamite, antitank guns, mortar shells.• Another bizarre idea thought up by a general was drop-ping mortar shells from a helicopter.• A well placed mortar shell can therefore kill a great many victims at once.• The crew light the fuse before dropping the mortar shell into the mortar.• The mortar shell explodes before it is fired.shellshell2 ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 PMSHOOTto fire shells from large guns at something The army has been shelling the town since yesterday.► see thesaurus at shoot2 DFCto remove something such as beans or nuts from a shell or pod Josie was shelling peas in the kitchen. → shell out (something)→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
shell• The complaint against them, it seems, is that they supplied the troops around Sarajevo who shelled and sniped at civilians.• The site would be the Olympic stadium, which was heavily shelled but still stands.• Border towns have been shelled by enemy aircraft for the past two months.• Shooting and shelling erupt sporadically from both sides.• They're being bombed and shelled every day and night just as in Sarajevo.• British warships began shelling German positions along the coast.• For instance, the network has shelled out big bucks to snare Bill Cosby for a new sitcom in the fall.• Others continue to shell out money.• They targeted the area's most vital structures, shelling power plants and hospitals.• Add one pound of cooked, shelled shrimp.• The forces of tyranny and aggression shelled the Mandali suburbs, Khurmal and Darband-e-Khan with long-range artillery.• And the possibility of further shelling was anything but remote in those days.shelling peas• He knew Marshka would destroy him as effortlessly and unthinkingly as shelling peas.• We are peeling potatoes, forming tiny meatballs, browning chicken, shelling peas.ShellShell trademark a very large international oil company which has many petrol stations world-wideFrom Longman Business Dictionaryshellshell /ʃel/ verb → shell out something→ See Verb tableOrigin shell1 Old English sciell 