shoulder

[ shohl-der ]

/ ˈʃoʊl dər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR shoulder ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the part of each side of the body in humans, at the top of the trunk, extending from each side of the base of the neck to the region where the arm articulates with the trunk.

Usually shoulders. these two parts together with the part of the back joining them.

a corresponding part in animals.

the upper foreleg and adjoining parts of a sheep, goat, etc.

the joint connecting the arm or the foreleg with the trunk.

a shoulderlike part or projection.

Ornithology. the bend of a bird's wing, between the hand and the forearm, especially when distinctively colored, as in the red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus.

a cut of meat that includes the upper joint of the foreleg.

Often shoulders. Informal. capacity for bearing responsibility or blame or sympathizing with other people: If you want to tell me your troubles, I have broad shoulders.

a steplike change in the contour of an object, as for opposing or limiting motion along it or for an abutment.

Carpentry.

the end surface or surfaces of a piece from which a tenon or tenons project.
an inclined and raised surface, as on a joggle post, for receiving and supporting the foot of a strut or the like.

Fortification. the angle of a bastion between the face and the flank.

Printing. the flat surface on a type body extending beyond the base of the letter or character.

the part of a garment that covers, or fits over, the shoulder.

(in leather manufacturing) that part of the hide anterior to the butt.

either of the two edges or borders along a road, especially that portion on which vehicles can be parked in emergencies.Compare soft shoulder.

shoulder season.

Furniture. knee(def 6).

verb (used with object)

to push with or as if with the shoulder, especially roughly: to shoulder someone aside.

to take upon, support, or carry on or as if on the shoulder or shoulders: He shouldered his knapsack and walked on.

to assume as a responsibility: to shoulder the expense.

verb (used without object)

to push with or as if with the shoulder: to shoulder through a crowd.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Here is our second set of teacher-selected PSAT vocabulary words. Do you know the meanings of these terms?

Question 1 of 10

advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for shoulder

cry on someone's shoulder, to reveal one's problems to another person in order to obtain sympathy: Don't cry on my shoulder—this mess is your own fault.

put one's shoulder to the wheel, to work energetically toward a goal; put forth effort: If we put our shoulders to the wheel, we'll be able to finish the job soon.

rub shoulders with, to come into association with; mingle with: As a social worker in one of the worst slum areas, she rubs shoulders with the poor and the helpless.

shoulder arms, Military.

to place a rifle muzzle upward on the right or left shoulder, with the buttstock in the corresponding hand.
the command to shoulder arms.

shoulder to shoulder, side by side; with united effort: The volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder with the natives in harvesting the crops.

straight from the shoulder, without evasion; directly; candidly: The lawyer told him straight from the shoulder that his case was weak.

Origin of shoulder

before 900; (noun) Middle English sholder, s(c)hulder, Old English sculdor; cognate with Dutch schouder, German Schulter; (v.) Middle English shulderen, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR shoulder

21 bear, undertake, carry.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR shoulder ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM shoulder

out·shoul·der, verb (used with object)re·shoul·der, verb (used with object)un·shoul·dered, adjective

Words nearby shoulder

shotting, shottsuru, shotwell, should, should have stood in bed, i, shoulder, shoulder bag, shoulder blade, shoulder board, shoulder girdle, shoulder harness

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for shoulder

So I just patted him kind-like on the shoulder and sat down.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But Liberty is always dipping his shoulder, whirling around.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“I only touched his shoulder,” the pastor told sheriffs, according to the police report.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her mother, pregnant at the time of the killing, was hit in the shoulder by a bullet from the same gun that killed her son.
Drawing on the Memories of Syrian Women|Masha Hamilton|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

According to Ibrahim, the police officers grabbed him by the shoulder and struck him in the face.
In Jerusalem Home Demolitions, the Biblical Justice of Revenge|Creede Newton|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He put his hand on her shoulder and asked her if she was in any pain.
Peck's Compendium of Fun|George W. Peck
And here a voice called to him, and a hand was laid on his shoulder.
Night and Morning, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
"That is not the way to speak, sir," he said sternly, while the constable pressed a warning hand on James's shoulder.
With Wolfe in Canada|G. A. Henty
The thought of Gideon's stick, the feel of his heavy hand upon his shoulder, were with him as of yore.
Lewis Rand|Mary Johnston
I had her—of course in so public a place it was my right to have her—she was over my shoulder.
Life on the Stage|Clara Morris

British Dictionary definitions for shoulder

shoulder

/ (ˈʃəʊldə) /

noun

the part of the vertebrate body where the arm or a corresponding forelimb joins the trunk: the pectoral girdle and associated structures

the joint at the junction of the forelimb with the pectoral girdle

a cut of meat including the upper part of the foreleg

printing the flat surface of a piece of type from which the face rises

tanning the portion of a hide covering the shoulders and neck of the animal, usually including the cheeks

the part of a garment that covers the shoulder

anything that resembles a shoulder in shape or position

the strip of unpaved land that borders a road

engineering a substantial projection or abrupt change in shape or diameter designed to withstand thrust

photog the portion of the characteristic curve of a photographic material indicating the maximum density that can be produced on the material

jewellery the part of a ring where the shank joins the setting

a shoulder to cry on a person one turns to for sympathy with one's troubles

give someone the cold shoulder informal

to treat someone in a cold manner; snub
to ignore or shun someone

put one's shoulder to the wheel informal to work very hard

rub shoulders with See rub (def. 11)

shoulder to shoulder

side by side or close together
in a corporate effort

verb

(tr) to bear or carry (a burden, responsibility, etc) as if on one's shoulders

to push (something) with or as if with the shoulder

(tr) to lift or carry on the shoulders

shoulder arms military to bring the rifle vertically close to the right side with the muzzle uppermost and held at the trigger guard

Word Origin for shoulder

Old English sculdor; related to Old High German sculterra

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for shoulder

shoulder

[ shōl′dər ]

n.

The joint connecting the arm with the torso.

The part of the human body between the neck and upper arm.

Idioms and Phrases with shoulder

shoulder

In addition to the idiom beginning with shoulder

shoulder to shoulder

also see:

broad shoulders
chip on one's shoulder
cold shoulder
cry on someone's shoulder
good head on one's shoulders
head and shoulders above
on one's shoulders
put one's shoulder to the wheel
rub elbows (shoulders) with
shrug one's shoulders
square one's shoulders
straight from the shoulder
weight of the world on one's shoulders

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shoulder