word
Continental Shelf
kon-tih-NEN-tul shelf
/ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl ʃɛlf/Listen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
continentalshelf
Dictionary meaning
Shallow, submerged edge of a continent extending into the ocean — typically less than 200m deep; rich fishing grounds (nutrient upwelling); oil and gas reserves; the shelf edge drops steeply to the deep ocean floor; nations claim sovereign rights over their continental shelf; the Bering Shelf connected Asia and North America during ice ages
Learn one new pronunciation a day
Get a word, name or idiom like “Continental Shelf” in your inbox — daily or weekly, free. Unsubscribe any time.
Something wrong? Suggest a correction