shelf
a thin slab of wood, metal, etc., fixed horizontally to a wall or in a frame, for supporting objects.
the contents of this: a shelf of books.
a surface or projection resembling this; ledge.
Physical Geography.
a sandbank or submerged extent of rock in the sea or river.
the bedrock underlying an alluvial deposit or the like.
Archery. the upper part of the bow hand, on which the arrow rests.
Idioms about shelf
off the shelf, readily available from merchandise in stock: Any of those parts can be purchased off the shelf.
on the shelf, Informal.
put aside temporarily; postponed.
inactive; useless.
without prospects of marriage, as after having broken an engagement.
Origin of shelf
1Other words from shelf
- shelflike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for shelf
/ (ʃɛlf) /
a thin flat plank of wood, metal, etc, fixed horizontally against a wall, etc, for the purpose of supporting objects
something resembling this in shape or function
the objects placed on a shelf, regarded collectively: a shelf of books
a projecting layer of ice, rock, etc, on land or in the sea: See also continental shelf
mining a layer of bedrock hit when sinking a shaft
archery the part of the hand on which an arrow rests when the bow is grasped
See off the shelf
on the shelf put aside or abandoned: used esp of unmarried women considered to be past the age of marriage
(tr) Australian slang to inform upon
Origin of shelf
1Derived forms of shelf
- shelflike, adjective
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
Scientific definitions for shelf
[ shĕlf ]
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with shelf
see off the shelf; on the shelf.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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