vt to furnish with shelves; as, to shelve a closet or a library.
2. shelve ·vi to incline gradually; to be slopping; as, the bottom shelves from the shore.
3. shelve ·vt to place on a shelf. hence: to lay on the shelf; to put aside; to dismiss from service; to put off indefinitely; as, to shelve an officer; to shelve a claim.