shell
noun uk/ʃel/ us/ʃel/
(COVERING)
B2 [ C or U ]（尤指坚果、蛋、某些动物的）壳
the hard outer covering of something, especially nuts, eggs, and some animals
Brazil nuts have very hard shells. 巴西果的壳很坚硬。
A piece of shell fell into the cake mixture. 有片蛋壳掉进蛋糕面糊里了。
the shell of a snail/crab/tortoise 蜗牛／蟹／乌龟的壳
a shell necklace (= a piece of jewellery made out of the shells of small sea creatures) 贝壳项链
See also: eggshellnutshellseashellshellfish
[ C ]（尤指内部遭破坏、被去除或尚未建成的建筑物、车辆的）框架，骨架
the basic outer structure of a building or vehicle, especially when the parts inside have been destroyed or taken or have not yet been made
the shell of a burned-out farmhouse 大火后农舍的残骸
- More examples
- We brought some shells home from the beach.
- She had a collection of shells on her shelf.
- These creatures have a very hard shell.
- Free-range eggs tend to have harder shells.
- I found a small piece of egg shell in my cake.
(EXPLOSIVE)
[ C ]炮弹
a container, usually with a pointed end, that is filled with explosives and shot from a large gun
Artillery and mortar shells were landing in the outskirts of the city. 大炮和迫击炮弹落在城市周边地区。
(BOAT)
[ C ]赛艇
a type of boat used for racing, driven by people using oars (= poles with flat ends)
(COMPANY)
空壳公司
a company that is used to hide illegal activities
The shell advertised bonds for sale to investors, but this offering was essentially a fraud because no bonds ever existed. 空壳公司刊登广告向投资者兜售债券，但这实质上是欺诈行为，因为其实从来都没有债券可卖。
Idioms
come out of your shellidiom (also bring someone out of their shell) （使）变得不再自闭，（使）融入外部世界
If you come out of your shell, you become more interested in other people and more willing to talk and take part in social activities, and if someone brings you out of your shell, they cause you to do this.
Derek has really come out of his shell since he started working here. 自从开始在这儿工作以后，德里克真正变得活跃起来。
crawl/go/retreat/retire into your shellidiom 变得自闭起来
to become less interested in other people and less willing to talk and take part in social activities
The more they tried to get her to talk about her experiences, the further she retreated back into her shell. 他们越是想让她谈谈自己的经历，她越是沉默寡言。
shell
verb [ T ] uk/ʃel/ us/ʃel/
(COVERING)
剥去…的壳
to remove peas, nuts, etc. from their shells or their natural covering
(EXPLOSIVE)
炮轰，炮击
to fire shells at something
They were under orders to shell the hospital and the town hall. 他们奉命炮轰医院和市政厅。
Phrasal verb
shell (something) out （通常指不情愿地）支付，拿出（钱）
to pay or give money for something, usually unwillingly
Having shelled out €150 for the tickets, I wasn't going to miss the show. 我忍痛花了150欧元买票，说什么也不会错过演出的。