shelf

[ shelf ]

noun

, plural shelves [shelvz].

1. a thin slab of wood, metal, etc., fixed horizontally to a wall or in a frame, for supporting objects.
2. the contents of this:

   a shelf of books.

3. a surface or projection resembling this; ledge.
4. Physical Geography.
   1. a sandbank or submerged extent of rock in the sea or river.
   2. the bedrock underlying an alluvial deposit or the like.
   3. continental shelf.
5. Archery. the upper part of the bow hand, on which the arrow rests.

shelf

/ ʃɛlf /

noun

1. a thin flat plank of wood, metal, etc, fixed horizontally against a wall, etc, for the purpose of supporting objects
2. something resembling this in shape or function
3. the objects placed on a shelf, regarded collectively

   a shelf of books

4. a projecting layer of ice, rock, etc, on land or in the sea See also continental shelf
5. mining a layer of bedrock hit when sinking a shaft
6. archery the part of the hand on which an arrow rests when the bow is grasped
7. See off the shelf
8. on the shelf
   put aside or abandoned: used esp of unmarried women considered to be past the age of marriage

verb

1. slang.
   tr to inform upon

shelf

/ shĕlf /

1. See continental shelf

Derived Forms

• ˈshelfˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• shelflike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelf¹

1350–1400; Middle English; Old English scylfe; akin to Low German schelf shelf, Old Norse -skjalf bench

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelf¹

Old English scylfe ship's deck; related to Middle Low German schelf shelf, Old English scylf crag

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off the shelf, readily available from merchandise in stock:

   Any of those parts can be purchased off the shelf.

2. on the shelf, Informal.
   1. put aside temporarily; postponed.
   2. inactive; useless.
   3. without prospects of marriage, as after having broken an engagement.

More idioms and phrases containing shelf

see off the shelf ; on the shelf .

Example Sentences

But by far the most interesting object, which held enormous fascination for me, sat high up on the top shelf.

From The Daily Beast

And much of it, unlike Pappy, is right there on the shelf, humbly, quietly waiting to be tried.

From The Daily Beast

The men preside over three display cases, each with three shelves, seven comic books per shelf.

From The Daily Beast

On the top shelf, sandwiched between Detective Comics No.27 and Superman No.1, are three issues of Actions Comics No.1.

From The Daily Beast

But how much easier, he says with disdain, for those who just buy whiskey off the shelf and market it.

From The Daily Beast

On a shelf near one of these windows stood the little Madonna, again wreathed with vines as in San Pasquale.

From Project Gutenberg

The walls were painted blue, the skirting almost a third of the height, and so wide at the top as to form a narrow shelf.

From Project Gutenberg

On a shelf above the divan, however, were many books, and Gwynne ran his eye over them.

From Project Gutenberg

Kerry crossed the room, laid his oilskin and cane upon a chair, and from the shelf where it reposed took a squat volume.

From Project Gutenberg

Moodily he stood there, one hand on the high mantel shelf, one foot upon an andiron, his eyes upon the flames.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• counter
• cupboard
• ledge
• rack