/ʃel ||; ʃɛl/noun1 [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