shell shell [ʆel] verb
shell out something phrasal verb [intransitive, transitive] informal
to spend a lot of money on something, often when you do not really want to; =FORK OUT:
shell out something for/on
• The insurance company refused to shell out for repairs.
• NFC shelled out £75 million on 16 businesses.
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Ⅰ.
shell UK US /ʃel/ noun [C] (also shell company, also shell corporation) FINANCE, LAW
► a company that has been created to hide illegal activities: »
The shell advertised bonds for sale to investors, but this offering was essentially a fraud because no bonds ever existed.
»She played a vital role in the bribery scheme by creating a shell company to receive a flow of illicit payments.
► a company that has been officially created so that it can be sold to someone who does not want to have to create the company themselves: »
Most holding company reorganizations involve a merger between the pre-existing company and a shell company.
► a company that was active in the past, but that now does little or no business, that someone buys so they do not have to create a new company: »
Maypole was created out of a shell company called Octagon.
Ⅱ.
shell UK US /ʃel/ adjective [before noun] FINANCE, LAW
► used to describe an organization that has been created to hide illegal activities: »
The bill would prevent US banks from opening accounts for foreign shell banks.
Financial and business terms. 2012.