3 → see also continental shelf
4 PHRASE If you buy something off the shelf , you buy something that is not specially made for you. [BRIT ] □ …off-the-shelf software.
she lf life (shelf lives ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The shelf life of a product, especially food, is the length of time that it can be kept in a shop or at home before it becomes too old to sell or use. □ Mature flour has a longer shelf life.
shell ◆◇◇ /ʃe l/ (shells , shelling , shelled )
1 N‑COUNT The shell of a nut or egg is the hard covering which surrounds it. □ They cracked the nuts and removed their shells. ● N‑UNCOUNT Shell is the substance that a shell is made of. □ …beads made from ostrich egg shell.
2 N‑COUNT The shell of an animal such as a tortoise, snail, or crab is the hard protective covering that it has around its body or on its back.
3 N‑COUNT Shells are hard objects found on beaches. They are usually pink, white, or brown and are the coverings which used to surround small sea creatures. □ I collect shells and interesting seaside items. □ …sea shells.
4 VERB If you shell nuts, peas, prawns, or other food, you remove their natural outer covering. □ [V n] She shelled and ate a few nuts. □ [V -ed] …shelled prawns.
5 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] If someone comes out of their shell , they become more friendly and interested in other people and less quiet, shy, and reserved. □ Her normally shy son had come out of his shell.
6 N‑COUNT The shell of a building, boat, car, or other structure is the outside frame of it. □ [+ of ] …the shells of burned buildings.
7 N‑COUNT A shell is a weapon consisting of a metal container filled with explosives that can be fired from a large gun over long distances.
8 VERB To shell a place means to fire explosive shells at it. □ [V n] The rebels shelled the densely-populated suburbs near the port. ● shell|ing (shellings ) N‑VAR □ Out on the streets, the shelling continued.
▸ shell out PHRASAL VERB If you shell out for something, you spend a lot of money on it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n + for/on ] You won't have to shell out a fortune for it. □ [V P + for/on ] …an insurance premium which saves you from having to shell out for repairs. [Also V P to-inf]
she'll /ʃiːl, ʃ I l/ She'll is the usual spoken form of 'she will'. □ Sharon was a wonderful lady and I know she'll be greatly missed.
shel|lac /ʃəlæ k/ N‑UNCOUNT Shellac is a kind of natural varnish which you paint on to wood to give it a shiny surface.
she ll com|pa|ny (shell companies ) N‑COUNT A shell company is a company that another company takes over in order to use its name to gain an advantage. [BUSINESS ]
shell|fire /ʃe lfa I ə r / N‑UNCOUNT Shellfire is the firing of large military guns. □ The radio said other parts of the capital also came under shellfire.
shell|fish /ʃe lf I ʃ/ (shellfish ) N‑VAR [usu pl] Shellfish are small creatures that live in the sea and have a shell. □ Fish and shellfish are the specialities.
she ll pro|gram (shell programs ) N‑COUNT A shell program is a basic computer program that provides a framework within which the user can develop the program to suit their own needs. [COMPUTING ]
she ll shock also shell-shock N‑UNCOUNT Shell shock is the confused or nervous mental condition of people who have been under fire in a war. □ The men were suffering from shell shock.
she ll-shocked also shell shocked
1 ADJ If you say that someone is shell-shocked , you mean that they are very shocked, usually because something bad has happened. [INFORMAL ] □ We were shell-shocked when Chelsea took the lead. □ …shell-shocked investors.
2 ADJ If someone is shell-shocked , they have a confused or nervous mental condition as a result of a shocking experience such as being in a war or an accident. □ …a shell-shocked war veteran.
she ll suit (shell suits ) also shell-suit N‑COUNT A shell suit is a casual suit which is made of thin nylon. □ …someone in a shell suit from Stirchley.
shel|ter ◆◇◇ /ʃe ltə r / (shelters , sheltering , sheltered )
1 N‑COUNT A shelter is a small building or covered place which is made to protect people from bad weather or danger. □ The city's bomb shelters were being prepared for possible air raids. □ …a bus shelter.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If a place provides shelter , it provides you with a place to stay or live, especially when you need protection from bad weather or danger. □ The number of families seeking shelter rose by 17 percent. □ …the hut where they were given food and shelter.
3 N‑COUNT A shelter is a building where homeless people can sleep and get food. □ [+ for ] …a shelter for homeless women.
4 VERB If you shelter in a place, you stay there and are protected from bad weather or danger. □ [V prep/adv] …a man sheltering in a doorway.
5 VERB [usu passive] If a place or thing is sheltered by something, it is protected by that thing from wind and rain. □ [V -ed] …a wooden house, sheltered by a low pointed roof.
6 VERB If you shelter someone, usually someone who is being hunted by police or other people, you provide them with a place to stay or live. □ [V n] A neighbor sheltered the boy for seven days.