shelf

noun
UK: /ʃelf/
US: /ʃelf/

  1. A flat, horizontal surface used for storing things.

    1. I put the book on the shelf. [ ] [ ]
    2. The books were neatly arranged on the bookshelf; the top shelf held my favorite novels. [ ] [ ]

  2. A ledge or flat surface projecting from a wall or rock face.

    1. The cat is sitting on the shelf. [ ] [ ]
    2. Climbing the mountain, we found a narrow shelf where we could rest for a moment. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

rack mantel ledge
shelf transitive-verb

  1. To put something on a shelf.

    1. I'll shelf this book for later. [ ] [ ]
    2. She decided to shelf the project temporarily due to budget constraints. [ ] [ ]

  2. To decide not to proceed with something or put it aside, either temporarily or permanently.

    1. They shelved the plans. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company shelved its plans for expansion after the economic downturn affected projected revenue. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "shelf" in English means: A flat, horizontal surface used for storing things., A ledge or flat surface projecting from a wall or rock face..

The phonetic transcription of "shelf" is /ʃelf/ in British English and /ʃelf/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "shelf": rack, mantel, ledge.

Example usage of "shelf": "I put the book on the shelf.". More examples on the page.