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shelves - 8 dictionary results
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shelves

  [shelvz]
Use shelves in a Sentence
–noun
pl. of shelf.
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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.
a. a sandbank or submerged extent of rock in the sea or river.
b. the bedrock underlying an alluvial deposit or the like.
c. continental shelf.
5. Archery. the upper part of the bow hand, on which the arrow rests.
—Idioms
6. off the shelf, readily available from merchandise in stock: Any of those parts can be purchased off the shelf.
7. on the shelf, Informal.
a. put aside temporarily; postponed.
b. inactive; useless.
c. without prospects of marriage, as after having broken an engagement.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME; OE scylfe; akin to LG schelf shelf, ON -skjalf bench

Related forms:
shelflike, adjective

shelve

1  [shelv]
–verb (used with object), shelved, shelv⋅ing.
1. to place (something) on a shelf or shelves.
2. to put off or aside from consideration: to shelve the question.
3. to remove from active use or service; dismiss.
4. to furnish with shelves.
Origin:
1585–95; v. use of shelve(s)

Related forms:
shelver, noun

Synonyms:
2. defer, table, pigeonhole.

shelve

2  [shelv]
–verb (used without object), shelved, shelv⋅ing.
to slope gradually.
Origin:
1580–90; orig. uncert.; cf. Fris skelf not quite level
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To shelves
shelf   (shělf)   
n.   pl. shelves (shělvz)
    1. A flat, usually rectangular structure composed of a rigid material, such as wood, glass, or metal, fixed at right angles to a wall or other vertical surface and used to hold or store objects.
    2. The contents or capacity of such a structure.
    3. Something, such as a projecting ledge of rock or a balcony, that resembles such a structure.
  2. A reef, sandbar, or shoal.
  3. Bedrock.

[Middle English, probably from Middle Low German schelf; see skel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
shelf'ful' n.
shelve   (shělv)   
v.   shelved, shelv·ing, shelves

v.   tr.
  1. To place or arrange on a shelf.
  2. To put away as though on a shelf; put aside: "As usual, Dixon shelved this question" (Kingsley Amis). See Synonyms at defer1.
  3. To cause to retire from service; dismiss.
  4. To furnish or outfit with shelves.
v.   intr.
To slope gradually; incline.

[From shelf (on the model of such pairs as calf, calve).]
shelv'er n.
shelves   (shělvz)   
n.  Plural of shelf.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
shelf   (shělf)  Pronunciation Key 
See continental shelf.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : shelves
Spanish: estante,
German: das Regal,
Japanese: 棚
More Translations »
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