Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Shelve

Shelve

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To furnish with shelves;
as, to
shelve
a closet or a library
.
2.
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
.

Shelve

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Shelved
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Shelving
.]
[Perhapss originally from the same source as
shallow
, but influenced by
shelf
a ledge, a platform.]
To incline gradually; to be slopping;
as, the bottom
shelves
from the shore
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Shelve

SHELVE

,
Verb.
T.
shelv. To place on a shelf or on shelves. [Not in use.]

SHELVE

,
Verb.
I.
to incline; to be sloping.

Definition 2024


shelve

shelve

English

Verb

shelve (third-person singular simple present shelves, present participle shelving, simple past and past participle shelved)

  1. (transitive) to place on a shelf
    The library needs volunteers to help shelve books.
  2. (transitive) to set aside, quit, or halt
    They shelved the entire project when they heard how much it would cost.
  3. To furnish with shelves.
    to shelve a closet or a library
  4. (Wales, slang) to have sex with

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

shelve (plural shelves)

  1. A rocky ledge or shelf.
    • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.181:
      And all was stillness, save the sea-bird's cry, / And dolphin's leap, and little billow crossed / By some low rock or shelve, that made it fret / Against the boundary it scarcely wet.

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