shelf¹ ◙ (pl. shelves ) 1. a flat length of wood or rigid material, attached to a wall or forming part of a piece of furniture, that provides a surface for the storage or display of objects • 架子，搁板 a ledge of rock or protruding strip of land • 突出的岩石，突出的土地 a submarine bank, or a part of the continental shelf • 大陆架，陆棚
【IDIOMS】
◘ off the shelf 1. not designed or made to order but taken from existing stock or supplies • 现货的；现卖的 »off-the-shelf software packages. 现货软件包。 ◘ on the shelf 1. (of people or things) no longer useful or desirable • 搁置一旁的；无用的 »an injury which has kept him on the shelf. 一次使他一直被弃置的伤。 (especially of a woman) past an age when one might expect to have the opportunity to marry • （尤指大龄妇女）嫁不出去的 (of a music recording or a film) awaiting release on the market after being recorded • （音乐唱片，电影）待发行的
【派生】
♦ shelf-ful nounpl.-fuls ♦ shelf-like adjective
【语源】
1. Middle English: from Middle Low German schelf; related to Old English scylfe 'partition', scylf 'crag'shelf²[Austral./NZ informal] ◙ (pl. shelfs) 1. an informer • [澳，非正式] 告密者 ◙ verb 1. [with obj.] inform upon (someone) • 告发（某人）
【语源】
1. early 20th cent. (as a noun): probably from the phrase on the shelf 'out of the way'