1 [C,U] a hard covering that protects eggs, nuts and some animals (蛋、坚果及某些动物的)壳:
Some children were collecting shells on the beach.一些孩子在海滩上捡贝壳。a piece of eggshell一个蛋壳Tortoises have a hard shell.乌龟长有硬壳。☞pictures at mollusc, nut and shellfish 见mollusc、nut及shellfish插图
2 [C] the walls or hard outer structure of sth (某物的)壁,坚硬的外部结构:
The body shell of the car is made in another factory.这种汽车的框架在另一个工厂制造。
3 [C] a metal container that explodes when it is fired from a large gun 炮弹
come out of your shell to become less shy and more confident when talking to other people 不再羞怯;变得比较自信
go, retreat, etc into your shell to suddenly become shy and stop talking 变得羞怯;不愿与人接触