bookshelf

American  

[book-shelf] / ˈbʊkˌʃɛlf /

noun

plural

bookshelves

1. a shelf for holding books, especially one of several shelves in a bookcase.

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Etymology

Origin of bookshelf

First recorded in 1810–20; book + shelf

Compare meaning

How does bookshelf compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bookshelf vs. bookcase

Example Sentences

On my bookshelves lived my beloved book collection — hundreds of signed, first edition novels which had taken me years to collect.

From Los Angeles Times

I helped organize his bookshelf when he moved into that old folks home.

From Salon

Thankfully, we can still turn to our bookshelves — and podcasts — to ground us.

From Los Angeles Times

One of his books, “The Art of the Comeback,” appears on a bookshelf in another photo.

From The Wall Street Journal

I walked—stormed?—over to the bookshelf in the corner and then came back.

From Literature