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Shelve vs Shelving - What's the difference?

shelve | shelving |

As verbs the difference between shelve and shelving

is that shelve is to place on a shelf while shelving is present participle of shelve.

As nouns the difference between shelve and shelving

is that shelve is a rocky ledge or shelf while shelving is shelves collectively.

shelve

English

Verb

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

    • Synonyms

    * (set aside) pigeonhole, table

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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.

    Anagrams

    *

    shelving

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • Present participle of shelve.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • Shelves collectively.
    • There is ample shelving in the basement.
  • (chiefly, in the plural) The side-rails of a cart or waggon.
  • * 1932 , (Lewis Grassic Gibbon), Sunset Song'', Polygon 2006 (''A Scots Quair ), p. 47:
    • So, creaking and creaking, and the shelvins skirling under the weight of their load, they passed that danger point, the carts plodded into motion again […].