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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students

Dictionary Entry

shell

noun

Find the meaning of the word shell, plus dictionary definition, pronunciation, thesaurus-style synonyms, antonyms, and related vocabulary.

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1

Meaning

Dictionary meaning in a clear, student-friendly format.

The hard, protective outer covering of certain animals (like snails or turtles), nuts, or seeds. It can also refer to the outer casing of a projectile or explosive.

Example Sentence

The hermit crab found a new shell to protect its soft body.

Usage Note

"Shell" is commonly used to describe the hard outer layer of various natural objects like eggs, nuts, and marine animals. It's also used for the outer casing of ammunition or explosives. As a verb, it means to remove this outer layer, such as "to shell peas" or "to shell corn".