Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for shelve on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), shelved, shelv·ing. to place (something) on a shelf or shelves . to put off or aside from consideration: to shelve the question. to remove from active use or service; dismiss. to furnish with shelves . Show More
Origin of shelve 1 First recorded in
1585–95; v. use of
shelve(s) Related forms shelv·er , noun verb (used without object), shelved, shelv·ing. to slope gradually. Show More
Origin of shelve 2 1580–90; origin uncertain; compare Frisian skelf not quite level
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for shelve suspend ,
waive ,
freeze ,
prolong ,
mothball ,
dismiss ,
scrub ,
drop ,
pigeonhole ,
stay ,
delay ,
sideline ,
table ,
hold ,
prorogue Examples from the Web for shelve Contemporary Examples of shelve When Kubrick explained that the resulting movie would be seven hours long, they agreed to shelve the script.
If they read Nelson carefully, they'll hear a muted warning to shelve Paul Ryan's budget plans.
That's really expensive, and it requires a lot of labor to keep track of all of those SKUs, figure out where to shelve them, etc.
So should we shelve the personal-empowerment movement if we want to have long and happy marriages?
Historical Examples of shelve It had previously been decided to shelve "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
The idea was not altogether comfortable, and he tried to shelve it.
We'll shelve that part of the information bureau and work on other lines.
She is head on to the Sand, but the Sand does not shelve much, and her keel is pretty even.
Believe me, they aren't going to shelve me just because one finger's gone!
British Dictionary definitions for shelve to place on a shelf to provide with shelves to put aside or postpone from consideration to dismiss or cause to retire Show More
Derived Forms shelver , noun Word Origin for shelve C16: from shelves, plural of shelf
(intr) to slope away gradually; incline Show More
Word Origin for shelve C16: origin uncertain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for shelve v.1 1590s, "to overhang," also "to provide with shelves," probably a back-formation from shelves , plural of shelf (n.1). Meaning "put on a shelf" first recorded 1650s; metaphoric sense of "lay aside, dismiss" is from 1812. Related: Shelved ; shelving .
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v.2 "to slope gradually," 1610s, from Middle English shelven "to slope," from shelfe "grassy slope," a word related to shelf (n.1). Related: Shelved ; shelving .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
