shelf /ʃelf/ n. ［c］(pl. shelves)1. 架子，搁板：continental shelf 大陆架；put the books on the shelf 把书放在书架上；a store shelf 商品陈列架 2.用于短语 on the shelf 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Some women used to think they were on the shelf if they weren’t married at 30.过去有的女人认为如果30岁还没结婚就嫁不出去了。