shelfnoun [ C ]
uk/ʃelf/us/ʃelf/plural shelvesA2 a long, flat board fixed horizontally, usually against a wall or inside a cupboard so that objects can be stored on it:
a glass shelf
on the top/bottom shelf
One wall had shelves from floor to ceiling, crammed with books.
See also
bookshelf
specialized geology a flat area of rock underwater or on a cliff
off the shelf
If a product can be bought off the shelf, it does not need to be specially made or asked for:
It's often cheaper if you buy wallpaper off the shelf, rather than having to order it.
off-the-shelf goods/clothes
remove sth from your shelves
When a shop removes something from its shelves, that product stops being available for sale there.
More examples
- I've put the cake on a high shelf where he can't get at it.
- She arranged her birthday cards along the shelf.
- He lifted the box carefully down from the shelf.
- I hit my head on the shelf as I was standing up.
- The books were organized on the shelves according to their size.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Furniture for storage
- airing cupboard
- almirah
- bookcase
- bookshelf
- bureau
- closet
- cupboard
- drawer
- dresser
- filing cabinet
- locker
- ottoman
- shelves
- shelving
- showcase
- stack
- stand
- walk-in
- wardrobe
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Geography: hills & mountains
Available and accessible
Buying & selling - general words
Taking things away from someone or somewhere
Idiom(s)
on the shelf