ledge

American  

[lej] / lɛdʒ /

noun

1. a relatively narrow, projecting part, as a horizontal, shelflike projection on a wall or a raised edge on a tray.

2. a more or less flat shelf of rock protruding from a cliff or slope.

3. a reef, ridge, or line of rocks in the sea or other body of water.

4. Mining.

   1. a layer or mass of rock underground.

   2. a lode or vein.

5. Carpentry. a member similar to but larger than a cleat.

6. Shipbuilding. a minor transverse deck beam running between regular deck beams to form part of a coaming.

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verb (used with object)

ledged, ledging

1. to assemble (a door or the like) with ledges.

ledge British  

/ lɛdʒ /

noun

1. a narrow horizontal surface resembling a shelf and projecting from a wall, window, etc

2. a layer of rock that contains an ore; vein

3. a ridge of rock that lies beneath the surface of the sea

4. a narrow shelflike rock projection on a cliff or mountain

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Other Word Forms

• ledgeless adjective
• ledgy adjective
• unledged adjective

Etymology

Origin of ledge

1300–50; Middle English legge, perhaps derivative of leggen to lay ¹; compare Middle High German legge layer, edge, Old English lecg part of a weapon

Example Sentences

A dog has been rescued after falling through an overhanging ledge of snow and spending a wintry night out on a mountain in the Highlands.

From BBC

“We’ve made some meaningful progress towards shrinking the gap. However, New York City is still placed on a ledge,” Mamdani said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rods of white and yellow stone hung thickly from the roof, but the black and shining floor below the ledge on which they stood was as smooth as glass.

From Literature

Danny and Glory rested their arms on the ledges of the car windows.

From Literature

And instead of nailing my art to the walls, I had multiple ledges installed that allow me to move pieces around.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• berm
• ridge
• rim
• sill