Pronunciation: [ʃˈɛlvz] (IPA) 
Shelves is a plural noun referring to horizontal surfaces used for storage. The word is spelled with the combination of the letters "sh" and "v" which makes it a bit tricky for non-native speakers to pronounce. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /ʃɛlvz/, where the "ʃ" represents the "sh" sound, the "ɛ" stands for the short "e" sound, the "lv" sounds like "lv" in "solved" and the "z" represents the voiced "s" sound at the end of the word.
Shelves, noun, plural: shelves
1. Referring to a furniture item or an architectural feature, shelves denote horizontal surfaces or platforms mounted or fixed to a wall, cabinet, or other structure. They are typically used to hold or display various objects, such as books, decorative items, dishes, clothing, or tools. Shelves can be made of different materials, including wood, metal, glass, or plastic, and are often designed with edges or lips to prevent items from falling off.
2. Figuratively, shelves can also refer to a structured system or arrangement where items or ideas are organized or categorized. In this sense, shelves serve as metaphorical compartments or divisions used to store or present information, concepts, or thoughts. For example, in a library, books are organized on shelves based on a classification system like the Dewey Decimal Classification.
3. Additionally, shelves can denote the act of putting something aside or postponing it for later, often due to the lack of immediate necessity or relevance. When an idea, project, or plan is shelved, it means that it has been temporarily set aside or abandoned but may be revisited or reopened in the future.
In summary, shelves are horizontal surfaces fixed to a wall or structure used for holding or displaying objects or for categorizing and organizing information. The term can also be used figuratively to indicate the act of putting something aside or postponing it for a later time.
A flat board fixed horizontally against a wall, on which articles may be laid or stored; a shoal or sandbank in the sea; a ledge of rocks; a flat projecting rock.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word shelves is derived from the Middle English word shelf which originally meant a flat slab of wood or stone and evolved from the Old English word scylfe. This ancient word can be traced back further to Old Norse skjalf meaning shelf or ledge. Ultimately, the origin of shelves can be found in the Proto-Germanic word skelfz meaning a split piece of wood.
