Word
Definition
n. a narrow shelf that sticks out from a wall, a window, or a cliff.
n. a narrow, horizontal surface projecting from a vertical face, such as a wall or a rock formation.
Examples
“He placed a small plant on the window ledge.”
“The climber rested for a moment on a narrow rock ledge before continuing his ascent up the cliff.”
“The architect designed the building with deep stone ledges above each window to provide natural shade during the hottest hours of the afternoon.”
Examples
simple
“He placed a small plant on the window ledge.”
contextual
“The climber rested for a moment on a narrow rock ledge before continuing his ascent up the cliff.”
complex
“The architect designed the building with deep stone ledges above each window to provide natural shade during the hottest hours of the afternoon.”
Usage
Commonly used in architectural contexts (window ledge) or geological descriptions (rock ledge).
Real-World Examples
“Skoloda climbed to a ledge directly above where the Honda had come to rest.” “When he reached a ledge, he fainted, blacking out for a short while before coming round.” Etymology
From Middle English legge, from Old English leċġ (“bar, crossbeam”), from Proto-West Germanic laggju (“layer, strip, ledge, rung, bar”), from Proto-Germanic lagjō (“layer, stratum”), from Proto-Indo-European legʰ- (“to lie, recline”). Cognate with West Frisian lêch (“a layer of sheaves on a threshing floor”), Dutch leg (“layer”), German Low German Legg (“wrinkle, fold, flat layer, stratum”), Middle High German legge, lecke (“position, layer, stratum, tier; pleat, hem”). Related to Middle English leggen (“to lay, apply”), from Old English leċġan (“to lay”); and Old English ġeleċġ (“positioning, arrangement, layout”) as in Old English limġeleċġ (“the disposition of the limbs, form, shape”). More at lay.
Shortening of legislature.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ledge
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0