Word
shelf
US/ˈʃɛɫf/
UK/ʃˈɛlf/
Definitions
01storage surface
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a flat board on a wall or in a cupboard where you can put books, tools, or other objects.
n. a flat, rigid structure fixed horizontally to a wall or as part of a piece of furniture, used for storage or display.
日本語:棚※
“He put the new books on the top shelf so the children couldn't reach them.”
“The carpenter installed adjustable shelves in the pantry to accommodate various sizes of kitchen appliances and storage containers.”
Usage
The plural form is 'shelves'.
Pitfall
I bought two new shelfs for my room.
I bought two new shelves for my room.
The plural of 'shelf' is 'shelves'.
02geological ledge
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical
n. a flat, rocky area that sticks out from a cliff or under the ocean.
n. a projecting ledge of rock or a submerged bank, such as a continental shelf.
“The divers explored the coral shelf just off the coast of the island.”
“The continental shelf extends for miles beneath the ocean surface before dropping off into the deep basin.”
Teaching tip
Often used in the specific geographical term 'continental shelf'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “shelf” in context.
Verb
01. clear the shelf
“She cleared the shelf to make room for her trophy collection.”
verb + noun
02. put on the shelf
“I put the new books on the shelf in the living room.”
verb + prep + noun
03. reach the top shelf
“He was tall enough to reach the top shelf without using a ladder.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. empty shelf
“There was only one empty shelf left in the entire library.”
adj + noun
05. wooden shelf
“The heavy wooden shelf was fixed securely to the wall.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. book shelf
“My book shelf is overflowing with novels I haven't read yet.”
noun + noun
07. shelf life
“Fresh milk has a very short shelf life compared to canned goods.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. on the shelf
“The keys are sitting right there on the shelf by the door.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“How to reduce waste - Create a shelf or section for soon-to-expire food, or use tape/stickers to label it.” “I haven’t run out of toilet paper since I installed Amazon’s smart shelf in my linen closet.” Etymology
From Middle English schelfe, probably from Old English sċylfe, sċilfe (“shelf, ledge, deck of a ship”), from Proto-West Germanic skilfijā, from Proto-Germanic skelfō (“shelf, ledge, cliff”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- (“to cut”), distantly related to sculpt, carve and shell. Cognate with Dutch schelf (“hay loft, haystack”), German Low German Schelf (“haystack”), Old Norse skjalf (“bench”).
Of obscure origin; evidently identical to Middle English shelp (“sandbar in a river”), but the sound shift is unexpected. Shelp might be from Old English scylp (“crag”) or Middle Dutch schelp-.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
Domain
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/shelf
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0