Shell

nounverified·updated May 9, 2026

A Unix term for the interactive user interface with an operating system. The shell is the layer of programming that understands and executes the commands a user enters. In some systems, the shell is called a command interpreter. A shell usually implies an interface with a command syntax (think of the DOS operating system and its "C:" prompts and user commands such as "dir" and "edit").

polysemousSANS Glossary of Security Terms

Senses

Wordset Dictionary

hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles

Wordset Dictionary

the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod

Wordset Dictionary

a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)

Wordset Dictionary

ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile

Wordset Dictionary

the housing or outer covering of something

Wordset Dictionary

a very light narrow racing boat

Wordset Dictionary

a rigid covering that envelops an object

Wordset Dictionary

the exterior covering of a bird's egg

Wordset Dictionary

the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts

Wordset Dictionary

the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals

Classifications

Entity Type

System85%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
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Sensitivity

95%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
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Information Class

95%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
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Variants

synonym
carapacecasecasingeggshellracing shellscale
plural
Shells
possessive
Shell's
pluralpossessive
Shells'