Definition

An object used to support a row of books and keep them standing upright on a shelf.

Example

I bought a pair of decorative bookends to organize my bookshelf.

Conversation

I just got some new bookends for my shelf.

Oh nice! What do they look like?

They're shaped like little trees, really cute!

That sounds awesome! I need to get some new ones too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bookend → It is formed from "book" (from Old English *bōc*, meaning a written work or volume) and "end" (from Old English *endian*, meaning to limit or finish). A bookend is an object that serves to support or limit the ends of a row of books.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'book' as a written work and 'end' as something that limits or supports it — a bookend is what keeps your books standing upright.

Visually Confused Words