shelf
gb/ʃˈɛlf/ us/ʃˈɛlf/
A1
Αγγλικά
~ 5700
Σημασίες
0 σημασίες
Ουσιαστικό
A1
entity
1
flat board for storage or display
A flat board on a wall or in a cupboard where you keep things.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to put [something] on a shelf
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners often make the plural incorrectly as *shelfs* instead of *shelves*. They may also say *in the shelf* instead of the correct preposition *on the shelf*.
Συνώνυμα
ledge (Can mean a similar projecting surface, but often refers to a narrow surface on a wall or cliff, not specifically a piece of furniture.)
|
rack (A frame or stand for holding things; similar function but usually not a single flat board.)
Αντώνυμα
floor (Things on a shelf are raised and organized, while things on the floor are at ground level and often less organized.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
top shelf
|kitchen shelf
|store shelf
|empty shelf
|wall shelf
|bookshelf
Θέματα
daily life
|home
|shopping
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- I put the books back on the shelf when I finished reading them.
- The kitchen shelf above the sink is full of spices and jars.
- Please don’t climb on the shelf; it’s not strong enough to hold your weight.
- We installed a new shelf in the bathroom for towels and toiletries.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- There are many photos on the shelf.
- She keeps her keys on a small shelf by the door.
- I need a new shelf for my games.
- The top shelf is too high for me.
Ουσιαστικό
B2
entity
2
narrow natural rock or ice ledge
A flat area of rock or ice that comes out from a cliff or the land, often near the sea or under the water.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
a shelf of rock/ice along [a place]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may not realize that this meaning of *shelf* is natural and not something you can move like a piece of furniture. Context words like *rock*, *ice*, *cliff*, or *sea* usually signal this sense.
Συνώνυμα
ledge (A general word for a narrow surface that sticks out; *shelf* here is a type of ledge, often by the sea or under water.)
Αντώνυμα
steep drop (A shelf is relatively flat and horizontal, while a steep drop describes a sudden, sharp vertical fall.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
rock shelf
|ice shelf
|wave-cut shelf
|narrow shelf
Θέματα
nature
|geography
Παραδείγματα
- The waves broke against a wide rock shelf at the base of the cliff.
- Divers rested on a narrow shelf just below the surface before going deeper.
- A huge ice shelf extends from the coast and floats over the ocean.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- There is a rock shelf under the clear water.
- We stood on a small shelf halfway up the cliff.
- The ice shelf is slowly breaking into the sea.
Ουσιαστικό
technical
C1
entity
3
submerged shallow seabed around a continent
The wide, shallow area of the sea floor around a continent, before the water becomes very deep.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
the continental shelf of [a country/region]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may confuse *continental shelf* with *coastline*. The continental shelf is under the sea, not the land at the edge of the sea.
Συνώνυμα
continental margin (A broader geological term; includes the continental shelf but also deeper parts such as the slope and rise.)
Αντώνυμα
deep ocean basin (Refers to the very deep, central parts of the ocean, in contrast to the shallow waters of the continental shelf.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
continental shelf
|extended continental shelf
|on the continental shelf
|continental shelf waters
Θέματα
science
|geography
|nature
Παραδείγματα
- Most of the country's fishing grounds lie on the continental shelf.
- Oil companies are exploring the outer continental shelf for new reserves.
- Nutrients washed from the land support rich marine life over the shelf.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- Many fish live on the continental shelf.
- The water is not very deep over the continental shelf.
- Scientists study the continental shelf to find oil and gas.
Ουσιαστικό
C1
state
4
figurative place for unused things
A way of talking about a plan or idea that is not active now and is not being used or developed.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
to put [something] on the shelf
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes imagine a real, physical shelf here. In this sense, *shelf* is figurative and almost always used with verbs like *put*, *leave*, or *take* plus the phrase *on the shelf*.
Συνώνυμα
back burner (An informal idiom meaning something is being given low priority; similar idea but focuses more on priority than complete inactivity.)
Αντώνυμα
in full swing (Describes an activity that is very active and developing, the opposite of being left on the shelf.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
put on the shelf
|leave on the shelf
|take off the shelf
|back on the shelf
Θέματα
work
|business
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- After the budget cuts, the project was quietly put on the shelf.
- Her proposal has been sitting on the shelf for years despite early enthusiasm.
- The plan is still on the shelf, but we may return to it next year.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- The company put the new app on the shelf.
- My idea is on the shelf because we have no time now.
- The plan stayed on the shelf until more money came.
Γραμματική
Λημματική μορφή
shelf
IPA
GB/ʃˈɛlf/
US/ʃˈɛlf/
Συλλαβές και τόνος
shelf (1 συλλαβή)
Stress on 1st syllable (shelf)
Τύποι λέξης
Noun
- Base: shelf
- Plural: shelves
Οικογένεια λέξεων
Εκφράσεις
fly off the shelves
1/flˈaɪ ˈɔf ðə ʃˈɛlvz/
idiom
informal
sell extremely quickly
To sell very quickly in large numbers.
Παραδείγματα
- The new smartphone is flying off the shelves.
- Tickets for the concert flew off the shelves as soon as they went on sale.
- During the holiday season, popular toys fly off the shelves.
off the shelf
1/ˈɔf ðə ʃˈɛlf/
idiom
ready-made, not custom-made
Ready-made and easy to buy, not made specially for one person or company.
Παραδείγματα
- They used off-the-shelf software instead of building their own system.
- The dress wasn’t custom-made; she bought it off the shelf.
- We need an off-the-shelf solution that we can deploy quickly.
on the shelf
1/ˈɔn ðə ʃˈɛlf/
idiom
not being used or wanted
Not being used, active, or wanted now, especially for a plan, idea, or product.
Παραδείγματα
- The new tax proposal is on the shelf until after the election.
- His novel sat on the shelf for years before a publisher finally accepted it.
- Sales of the product were so low that it ended up back on the shelf.
put on the shelf
1/pˈʊt ˈɔn ðə ʃˈɛlf/
phrasal verb
delay or stop a plan or idea
To stop working on a plan, idea, or project and not use it for some time.
Παραδείγματα
- The company put the expansion plans on the shelf after profits fell.
- The government has put the reform package on the shelf for now.
- They decided to put the marketing campaign on the shelf until the economy improves.
shelf life
1/ʃˈɛlf lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
time something stays usable in storage
The time a food or product stays good and safe to use while it is stored.
Παραδείγματα
- Fresh milk has a much shorter shelf life than powdered milk.
- Check the label to see the shelf life of these tablets.
- Digital products don’t spoil, but ideas can have a limited shelf life.
take off the shelf
1/tˈeɪk ˈɔf ðə ʃˈɛlf/
phrasal verb
resume using something inactive
To start using or working on a plan, idea, or product again after it has not been used.
Παραδείγματα
- After several years, they took the old design off the shelf and updated it.
- The bill was taken off the shelf and finally brought to a vote.
- We might take the project off the shelf if we find new funding.
top shelf
1/tˈɑp ʃˈɛlf/
idiom
of the best or premium quality
Of the best quality and usually more expensive than others, especially for alcohol in a bar.
Παραδείγματα
- He only orders top-shelf whiskey when he goes out.
- The bar keeps the top-shelf spirits behind the counter.
- We splurged on a bottle from their top-shelf collection.