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

The report of the scarlet tanager in Shelf, near Halifax, is believed to be the first time one of the birds has been sighted in Yorkshire.

From BBC

"The business case is there, it's not new technology, it's old technology - we can buy it of the shelf," said Prof Middleburgh.

From BBC

On a shelf behind Kristina, a small device confirms the threat outside – buzzing each time it detects a drone.

From BBC

I have a shelf of books, and I have read the French stuff, and I’ve seen all the films, so I didn’t need to read much more.

From Salon

“I like to make things that are colorful; I like to make things you want to grab, that have that sense of play,” she says, laying out an assortment of her creations that she lugged over from her designated shelf in the back.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• counter
• cupboard
• ledge
• rack