continental shelf

noun

, Physical Geography.

1. the part of a continent that is submerged in relatively shallow sea.

continental shelf

noun

1. the sea bed surrounding a continent at depths of up to about 200 metres (100 fathoms), at the edge of which the continental slope drops steeply to the ocean floor

continental shelf

1. The part of the edge of a continent between the shoreline and the continental slope. It is covered by shallow ocean waters and has a very gentle slope.

continental shelf

1. The region adjoining the coastline of a continent , where the ocean is no more than a few hundred feet deep. The shelf is built up from sediments washed down to the sea by rivers.

Notes

The continental shelves are often valuable because of the mineral resources and abundant marine life found there. ( See offshore drilling .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of continental shelf¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Their fossils have been found in several areas of Texas, but this fossil shows for the first time that the big cat roamed the now-submerged continental shelf that connects Texas and Florida.

From Science Daily

MBARI's Continental Margin Processes Team, led by Senior Scientist Charlie Paull, investigates how the morphology of the continental margin -- where the continental shelf transitions to the abyssal plain -- is sculpted and changed over time.

From Science Daily

But as it pushes up against the continental shelf, it can generate eddies, much like the revolving pools of water that form on the downstream sides of boulders in a river.

From Science Magazine

If he wins a second term, Trump would have broad authority to open the continental shelf to oil leases, but he would run into other problems.

From Los Angeles Times

Not as many leatherbacks frequented this area, but the ones that were tracked displayed feeding-like behavior especially along the continental shelf ridge.

From Science Daily