/ ʃelv; NAmE / verb
1.
[ vn ] to decide not to continue with a plan, either for a short time or permanently
SYN put on ice :
The government has shelved the idea until at least next year.
2.
[ vn ] to put books, etc. on a shelf
3.
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ] ( of land ) to slope downwards :
The beach shelved gently down to the water.
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WORD ORIGIN
senses 1 to 2 late 16th cent. (in the sense project like a shelf (Shakespearean usage)): from shelves , plural of shelf .
sense 3 late Middle English : origin uncertain; perhaps from shelf .