shell

• Nom désignant l'enveloppe externe dure et protectrice d'un animal tel qu'une tortue, un mollusque ou un œuf, ou une structure externe dure similaire.

A noun referring to the hard, protective outer covering of an animal, such as a turtle, mollusk, or egg, or a similar hard outer structure.

1. Hard outer coveringA1formal

   The hard protective outer layer of an animal, egg, nut, or seed.

   Coquille (enveloppe dure externe)

   • The turtle retreated into its shell.
   • She cracked the eggshell to make an omelet.
   • The walnut has a very hard shell.

   Synonymescarapacecasingcoatcoveringcrusthullhuskpod

2. Outer structure or frameworkB1formal

   The outer structure of a building, vehicle, or object that provides shape and protection.

   Coque ou structure extérieure

   • The shell of the building was completed before the interior work began.
   • The car's shell is made of lightweight aluminum.
   • Only the shell of the old factory remains after the fire.

   Synonymescasingframeframeworkhullskeletonstructure

3. B2formal

   A hollow metal projectile filled with explosive, fired from a large gun.

   Obus (projectile)

   • The artillery shell exploded near the enemy position.
   • Soldiers loaded the shells into the cannon.
   • The museum displayed a shell from World War I.

   Synonymesprojectileroundshot

4. A2informal

   A type of pasta shaped like a small shell.

   Coquillette en forme de coquillage

   • We had shell pasta with cheese sauce for dinner.
   • The salad contains small shell pasta and vegetables.
   • She bought a bag of shell pasta from the store.

• Verbe signifiant ôter l'enveloppe ou la coque extérieure de quelque chose, ou bombarder avec des obus ou des projectiles.

A verb used to indicate the act of removing the outer covering of something, or to bombard with shells.

1. Remove the outer coveringA2formal

   To remove the hard outer covering from something, such as nuts, eggs, or seafood.

   Décortiquer, écaler

   • She shelled the peanuts for the recipe.
   • He shelled the hard-boiled eggs carefully.
   • They spent the afternoon shelling crabs.

   Synonymeshullhuskpeelpodshuck

2. Bombard with shellsB2formal

   To attack or fire explosive shells at a target, typically in a military context.

   Bombarder d'obus

   • The artillery shelled the enemy positions all night.
   • The city was shelled during the siege.
   • They shelled the fortress from a distance.

   Synonymesbarragebombbombardcannonadepound

Variantes phrasalshell out