shelves

[ shelvz ]
/ ʃɛlvz /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR shelves ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

plural of shelf.

Words nearby shelves

sheltered workshop, sheltie, shelton, shelty, shelve, shelves, shelving, shem, shema, shembe, shemini atseres

Definition for shelves (2 of 4)

shelf
[ shelf ]
/ ʃɛlf /

noun, plural shelves [shelvz] /ʃɛlvz/.

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.
  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.
Archery. the upper part of the bow hand, on which the arrow rests.

Origin of shelf

1350–1400; Middle English; Old English scylfe; akin to Low German schelf shelf, Old Norse -skjalf bench

OTHER WORDS FROM shelf

shelf·like, adjective

Definition for shelves (3 of 4)

shelve 1
[ shelv ]
/ ʃɛlv /

verb (used with object), shelved, shelv·ing.

to place (something) on a shelf or shelves.
to put off or aside from consideration: to shelve the question.
to remove from active use or service; dismiss.
to furnish with shelves.

Origin of shelve

1
First recorded in 1585–95; v. use of shelve(s)

OTHER WORDS FROM shelve

shelv·er, noun

Definition for shelves (4 of 4)

shelve 2
[ shelv ]
/ ʃɛlv /

verb (used without object), shelved, shelv·ing.

to slope gradually.

Origin of shelve

2
1580–90; origin uncertain; compare Frisian skelf not quite level

Words related to shelves

counter, cupboard, rack, ledge, suspend, waive, freeze, prolong, mothball, ridge, reef, mantle, shallow, bracket, shoal, rock, console, bank, mantelpiece, dismiss

Example sentences from the Web for shelves

British Dictionary definitions for shelves (1 of 4)

shelves
/ (ʃɛlvz) /

noun

the plural of shelf

British Dictionary definitions for shelves (2 of 4)

shelve 1
/ (ʃɛlv) /

verb (tr)

to place on a shelf
to provide with shelves
to put aside or postpone from consideration
to dismiss or cause to retire

Derived forms of shelve

shelver, noun

Word Origin for shelve

C16: from shelves, plural of shelf

British Dictionary definitions for shelves (3 of 4)

shelve 2
/ (ʃɛlv) /

verb

(intr) to slope away gradually; incline

Word Origin for shelve

C16: origin uncertain

British Dictionary definitions for shelves (4 of 4)

shelf
/ (ʃɛlf) /

noun plural shelves (ʃɛlvz)

verb

(tr) Australian slang to inform upon

Derived forms of shelf

shelflike, adjective

Word Origin for shelf

Old English scylfe ship's deck; related to Middle Low German schelf shelf, Old English scylf crag

Scientific definitions for shelves

shelf
[ shĕlf ]

See continental shelf.

Idioms and Phrases with shelves

shelf

see off the shelf; on the shelf.