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shelled

shelled

1 1.9
Having a hard outer covering like a crab or nut
  • adjective
  • /ʃɛld/
translation icon : pelado
  • The shelled nuts are easier to eat than those with their hard outer covering still intact.

Examples

  • Now the research project life cycle can't end with a shelled notebook or files on a personal computer.

  • But they're super sturdy, like they're hard shelled, which means none of your products get crushed, which I really appreciate.

  • She prefers shelled shrimp for her dishes because they save preparation time.

  • The shelled eggs needed to be boiled for the recipe to turn out correctly.

Synonyms

armored
vsshelled
  • US
5 4.4

Having a natural hard covering like plates or shells for protection

is more specific to just having an outer covering rather than broad protective structures
hard-shelled
vsshelled
1 3.6

Having a hard outer covering that protects what is inside, like a crab or nut

is the unhyphenated general adjective used more widely
testaceous
vsshelled
  • Specialized
9.9

Having a hard shell or outer covering like a turtle

is the neutral everyday adjective rather than a technical term
hardshell
vsshelled
3.7

Having a hard outer surface that protects what is inside

is limited to simply having a covering rather than stressing protection

Antonyms

1 4.4

Having no hard outer covering, for example nuts or shrimp with that covering removed

Compounds

1 3.6

Having a hard outer covering that protects what is inside, like a crab or nut

A crab that recently shed its shell so it is soft and people eat it whole

A shellfish with a shiny inner shell often used to make mother-of-pearl

Having a thin shell that is easily broken

thin-shelled mussel
  • Specialized
7.4

A shellfish with a thin fragile shell that can be easily crushed

single-shelled
  • Specialized
7.5

A creature that has one hard outer covering, like a snail

Having a shell with an even surface without ridges or bumps

A water turtle with a flat soft shell that lives in rivers and lakes and bites hard

How Shelled

hard-shelled
1 3.6
shelled
1 1.9

Surface Forms

shelled positive

Morphology

shelled = shell (transparent) = shell + ed

The adjective is formed by a regular -ed adjectival/past-participle pattern on 'shell' meaning 'having or covered with a shell', though context can sometimes trigger a past-action reading ('removed shell').

Etymology

Shelled comes from shell, a common word for a 'hard outer covering', as in eggshell or seashell, that keeps what is inside safe. So, to be shelled means to have that protective shell around you, like a nut, a snail, or a turtle.