Illustration of continental shelf
- 1 seashore
- 2 continental shelf
- 3 continental slope
- 4 abyssal plain
- 5 seamount
continental shelf
noun
: a shallow submarine plain of varying width forming a border to a continent and typically ending in a comparatively steep slope to the deep ocean floor
Examples of continental shelf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But these concerns have abated as the iceberg appears to be grounded on the continental shelf around 90 kilometers (56 miles) from shore.
—
Jack Guy, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
The continental shelf offers refuge to creatures not suited for the shallow water or the abyss, including around New Caledonia.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Quickly resisting the change, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has threatened to file suit against Google, arguing Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf applied only to the area of the continental shelf under U.S. control.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2025
Another white shark, a 9-foot 7-inch male named Keji, pinged near the continental shelf off Ft. Myers in January, as well.
—Jon Chapman, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025
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Jack Guy, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
The continental shelf offers refuge to creatures not suited for the shallow water or the abyss, including around New Caledonia.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Quickly resisting the change, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has threatened to file suit against Google, arguing Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf applied only to the area of the continental shelf under U.S. control.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2025
Another white shark, a 9-foot 7-inch male named Keji, pinged near the continental shelf off Ft. Myers in January, as well.
—Jon Chapman, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for continental shelf
Cite this Entry
“Continental shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continental%20shelf. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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