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

And that solution, she writes, has been sitting on the shelves of a bacteriophage institute in Tbilisi, Georgia, for decades.

From Salon

And there, staring at us off the shelf, was Feathers McGraw, who people had often asked if he’s ever going to return.”

From Los Angeles Times

Fuelled by a social media buzz and celebrity users including Elon Musk, the drug has since been flying off pharmacy shelves around the world.

From BBC

However, the carrots were on shelves from mid-August through late October, so consumers should check their refrigerators and throw out or return any carrots which could be contaminated.

From Los Angeles Times

On my screen I can see that behind her, on a shelf, is her toy monkey, Mr H.

From BBC

Related Words

• counter
• cupboard
• ledge
• rack