n.

1. ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
2. the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
3. hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles;
   carapace, cuticle, shield
4. the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts
5. the exterior covering of a bird's egg;
   eggshell
6. a rigid covering that envelops an object
   
   • the satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice
7. a very light narrow racing boat;
   racing shell
8. the housing or outer covering of something;
   case, casing
   
   • the clock has a walnut case
9. a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners);
   plate, scale
10. the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc

v.

1. use explosives on;
   blast
   
   • The enemy has been shelling us all day
2. fall out of the pod or husk
   
   • The corn shelled
3. hit the pitches of hard and regularly
   
   • He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning
4. look for and collect shells by the seashore
5. come out better in a competition, race, or conflict;
   beat, beat out, crush, trounce, vanquish
   
   • Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
   • We beat the competition
   • Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
6. remove from its shell or outer covering
   
   • shell the legumes
   • shell mussels
7. remove the husks from;
   husk
   
   • husk corn