shell

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a metal container filled with explosives that is fired from a large gun.

n. a hollow projectile containing an explosive charge, typically fired by artillery or mortars.

“The soldiers loaded the heavy shells into the cannon.”

“The coastal battery was equipped to fire high-explosive shells capable of reaching targets several miles out at sea.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the basic outer frame of a building or object without the inside parts.

n. the external framework or walls of a structure, especially one that is unfinished or has been gutted.

“After the fire, only the brick shell of the house remained.”

“The developers purchased the industrial shell and planned to convert the interior into modern luxury lofts.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a program that lets a user talk to a computer by typing commands.

n. a software interface that provides access to an operating system's services, often via a command-line interpreter.

“You can type the command directly into the shell to move the file.”

“Experienced administrators often prefer working in a Unix shell because it allows for complex automation through scripting.”

B1 · Intermediate Cooking

v. to take the hard outer part off something, like peas or nuts.

v. to remove the pod, husk, or shell from a seed or fruit.

“We sat on the porch and shelled peas for dinner.”

“The recipe requires you to shell the pistachios before grinding them into a fine paste for the cake.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to fire large guns or explosives at a place.

v. to bombard a location with artillery shells.

“The navy began to shell the enemy's fort from the sea.”

“The city was shelled for three consecutive days, forcing the civilian population to seek refuge in underground bunkers.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

phr.v. to pay for something, especially when it is expensive or you do not want to.

phr.v. to disburse a significant amount of money, typically with a sense of reluctance or obligation.

“I had to shell out a lot of money to fix my car.”

“Homeowners often have to shell out thousands of dollars for unexpected repairs when purchasing an older property.”