Shell
nounid
4144·updated May 9, 2026verified
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").
polysemous
Attested in
No recorded attestations. They are written when an MWE tagging stage is completed, stamped with the pack version and the document’s digest.
Classifications
Entity Type
System85%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
Sensitivity
—95%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
Information Class
—95%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
Variants
- synonym
- carapacecasecasingeggshellracing shellscale
- plural
- Shells
- possessive
- Shell's
- pluralpossessive
- Shells'
Framework definitions
- §1
- 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").
- §1
- hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles
- §2
- the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc or a brachiopod
- §3
- a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
- §4
- ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile
- §5
- the housing or outer covering of something
- §6
- a very light narrow racing boat
- §7
- a rigid covering that envelops an object
- §8
- the exterior covering of a bird's egg
- §9
- the hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts
- §10
- the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
- §1 · legacy_primary
- 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").DR-088 backfill from the noun definition column
Outgoing relationships
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Incoming relationships
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No other term currently asserts a relationship to this one.