~ 1
■ noun ( plural shelves )
1》 a flat length of wood or rigid material attached to a wall or forming part of a piece of furniture, providing a surface for the storage or display of objects.
2》 a ledge of rock or protruding strip of land.
↘a submarine bank, or a part of the continental ~.
Phrases
off the ~ not designed or made to order.
on the ~
1》 no longer useful or desirable.
2》 past an age when one might expect to be married.
Derivatives
~-ful noun ( plural ~-fuls ).
~-like adjective
Origin
ME: from Mid. Low Ger. schelf ; related to OE scylfe 'partition', scylf 'crag'.
————————
~ 2 Austral./NZ
informal
■ noun ( plural ~s ) an informer.
■ verb inform on.
Origin
1930s: prob. from the phr. on the ~ 'out of the way'.