shoulder

[ shohl-der ]

/ ˈʃoʊl dər /

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See synonyms for: shoulder / shouldered / shouldering / shoulders 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR shoulder

21 accept, bear, take on.

See synonyms for shoulder on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about 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: The gallery was a space where bohemian artists would rub shoulders with both affluent collectors and the general public.

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 locals 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

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun sholder, s(c)hulder, Old English sculdor; cognate with Dutch schouder, German Schulter; the verb is derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM shoulder

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

Words nearby shoulder

shot tower, shottsuru, shot up, Shotwell, should, shoulder, shoulder bag, shoulder blade, shoulder board, shoulder girdle, shoulder harness

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use shoulder in a sentence

Anatoliy slapped me on the shoulder and told me he knew it all along—all I had needed to do was change my attitude.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl|Jonathan Slaght|August 28, 2020|Popular-Science
Leashes that attach at the back of a dog’s shoulders only reinforce pulling, Perry says.
The right way to walk your dog|John Kennedy|August 26, 2020|Popular-Science
My shoulders, which have irked me for months, have ceased to do so.
The Gym-Free Pandemic Workout: Kettlebells, Indian Clubs, Sandbags, Oh My!|Eugene Robinson|August 25, 2020|Ozy
They didn’t stand shoulder to shoulder but had separate sandboxes set up.
Morning Report: About Those Private Day Camps …|Voice of San Diego|August 18, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Todays’ POS systems offer in-built SEO tools in your point of sale system taking much of the burden off your shoulders.
SEO tips for your retail store|Content Media|August 17, 2020|Search Engine Watch
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
She was holding the back of her chair with one hand; her loose sleeve had slipped almost to the shoulder of her uplifted arm.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
I only saw the glitter of a bayonet which a Mexican thrust into his shoulder, at the very moment he was helping me up.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
For a moment Joe stood behind her, silently, looking over her shoulder at the signature of Isom Chase.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
Uncle David nodded, and waved his hand, as on entering the door he gave them a farewell smile over his shoulder.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Rising at once he bundled up his traps, threw the line of his small hand-sledge over his shoulder, and stepped out for home.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

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

Other 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

shoulder

OTHER WORDS FOR shoulder

Idioms about shoulder

Origin of shoulder

OTHER WORDS FROM shoulder

Words nearby shoulder

Words related to shoulder

How to use shoulder in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shoulder

Word Origin for shoulder

Other Idioms and Phrases with shoulder