noun
shelf
shehlf
noun
1
A flat board fixed to a wall or cabinet, used for holding or displaying objects.
"She lined the top shelf with her favourite novels."
2
A ledge or flat area that juts out, such as underwater rock or ice.
"The continental shelf extends far out from the coastline before dropping into deep ocean."
How to Use Shelf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flat surface for storing things, whether in a cupboard or in nature (like a rock ledge or the sea floor).
Common pairings
bookshelf
off the shelf
shelf life
continental shelf
Word Forms
shelves plural, shelves plural, shelfs plural
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Etymology
From Old English sċylfe, related to words in Dutch and German for a haystack or ledge.