Definition of Shelf

1. Noun. A support that consists of a horizontal surface for holding objects.


2. Noun. A projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water.
Exact synonyms: Ledge
Specialized synonyms: Berm
Generic synonyms: Ridge
Derivative terms: Shelfy

Definition of Shelf

1. n. A flat tablet or ledge of any material set horizontally at a distance from the floor, to hold objects of use or ornament.

Definition of Shelf

1. Noun. A flat, rigid, rectangular structure, fixed at right angles to a wall, and used to support, store or display objects. ¹

2. Noun. The capacity of such an object; as, a shelf of videos. ¹

3. Noun. A projecting ledge that resembles such an object. ¹

4. Noun. A reef, shoal or sandbar. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shelf

1. a flat rigid structure used to support articles [n SHELVES]

Medical Definition of Shelf

1. Origin: OE. Shelfe, schelfe, AS. Scylfe; akin to G. Schelfe, Icel. Skjalf. In senses 2 & 3, perhaps a different word (cf. Shelve,). 1. A flat tablet or ledge of any material set horizontally at a distance from the floor, to hold objects of use or ornament. 2. A sand bank in the sea, or a rock, or ledge of rocks, rendering the water shallow, and dangerous to ships. "On the tawny sands and shelves." (Milton) "On the secret shelves with fury cast." (Dryden) 3. A stratum lying in a very even manner; a flat, projecting layer of rock. 4. A piece of timber running the whole length of a vessel inside the timberheads. To lay on the shelf, to lay aside as unnecessary or useless; to dismiss; to discard. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shelf

shekels
shekere
shekeres
shekhinah
shekinah
shekinahs
sheld
sheldaple
sheldfowl
sheldrake
sheldrakes
sheldrickite
shelduck
shelducks
shelele
shelf (current term)
shelf-talker
shelf bracket
shelf cloud
shelf clouds
shelf fungus
shelf ice
shelf life
shelf lives
shelfed
shelfful
shelffuls
shelfier
shelfiest

Literary usage of Shelf

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Library Journal by American Library Association, Library Association (1896)
"SYSTEMS OF shelf-NOTATION. BY HH LANGTON, Librarian University of Toronto, Canada, MANY useful and acceptable reforms have been introduced of recent years ..."

2. Library Journal by American Library Association, Library Association (1885)
"The shelf is supported by small Z hooks. This is lighter and cheaper, ... The third pattern has four iron pegs solidly inserted in the ends of the shelf. ..."

3. The Geographical Journal by Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain). (1907)
"A satisfactory exploration of the North Polar continental shelf would therefore be a great achievement worth trying, compared with which the question ..."

4. The Care of Books: An Essay on the Development of Libraries and Their by John Willis Clark (1901)
"The book is placed on the shelf with the fore-edge turned outwards, and the other end of the chain is fastened to a second ring, rather larger than the ..."

5. Manual of Library Economy by James Duff Brown (1907)
"shelf Accessories.—For the purpose of maintaining order on the shelves and ... shelf Dummy for Book Shelved out of Order (Section 251). or to show that ..."

6. Manual of Library Economy by James Duff Brown (1903)
"39) will show exactly tb* form of this fitting. It consists of: fj shelf ... It should be noted that this variety of shelf-fitting does not give absolute ..."

7. Report of the Annual Meeting (1889)
"This portion of the continental shelf is terraced, and the slope varies in different places. It is broken by the long Flannan bank and the small circular ..."

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