ALL meanings of continental shelf
con·ti·nen·tal shelf
C c - uncountable noun continental shelf The continental shelf is the area which forms the edge of a continent, ending in a steep slope to the depths of the ocean. 3
- noun continental shelf the sea bed surrounding a continent at depths of up to about 200 metres (100 fathoms), at the edge of which the continental slope drops steeply to the ocean floor 3
- noun continental shelf a submerged shelf of land that begins at a continental shoreline, slopes downward gradually at an angle of about 0.1° for a variable distance, and ends at the top of a much steeper downward slope (continental slope) at an angle of about 3° to 6° until it reaches the ocean floor: at the outer edge of the shelf the depth of the ocean is usually between about 90 m (300 ft) and 180 m (600 ft) 3
- noun continental shelf the part of a continent that is submerged in relatively shallow sea. 1
- noun continental shelf (nautical) The area of sea around a land mass where the depth gradually increases before it plunges into the ocean deeps. 0