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shoulder Definition

shoul·der (s̸hōl′dər)

noun

    1. the joint connecting the arm or forelimb with the body
    2. the part of the body including this joint and extending to the base of the neck
  2. the two shoulders and the part of the back between them: often used figuratively with reference to this region as a place where burdens are often carried
  3. a cut of meat consisting of the upper foreleg and attached parts
  4. the part of a garment that covers the shoulder
  5. something like a shoulder in shape or position; shoulderlike projection
  6. that part of the top of a piece of type which extends beyond the base of the raised character
  7. ☆ the strip of land along the edge of a paved road; berm

Etymology: ME schuldere < OE sculdor, akin to Ger schulter < IE *skḷdhrā, shoulder blade used as a spade < base *(s)kel-, to cut > shell, shilling, skull

transitive verb

  1. to push or thrust along or through, with or as with the shoulder to shoulder one's way through a crowd
  2. to take or carry upon the shoulder
  3. to assume the burden of

intransitive verb

to push with the shoulder or shoulders

shoulder Idioms

cry on someone's shoulder

to tell one's troubles to someone in seeking comfort or sympathy

put one's shoulder to the wheel

to set to work vigorously; put forth vigorous effort

shoulder arms

Mil.
  1. to rest a rifle against the (right or left) shoulder, supporting the butt with the hand on the same side
    1. this position
    2. the command to assume it

shoulder to shoulder

  1. side by side and close together
  2. working together; with common effort

straight from the shoulder

  1. moving straight forward from the shoulder: said of a blow
  2. without reserve or evasion; frankly

turn a cold shoulder to

or give a cold shoulder to
  1. to treat with disdain; snub
  2. to avoid or shun
shoulder Synonyms

shoulder

n.

  1. Juncture of the fore leg or arm and body

    upper arm, upper leg, shoulder cut, shoulder joint; see arm 1, 2, joint 1.

  2. A projection

    collar, protrusion, road shoulder, soft shoulder; see ledge, ridge 1, 2.

cry on someone's shoulder

weep, object, shed tears; see cry 1, complain 1.

put one's shoulder to the wheel

labor, attempt, strive; see try 1, work 1.

rub shoulders with

be acquainted with, be familiar with, know, see frequently; see associate 1.

shoulder to shoulder

side by side, beside one another, together; see loyally, near 1.

straight from the shoulder*

honestly, frankly, openly; see direct, sincerely, truly 2.

turn<strong> or </strong>give a cold shoulder to

ignore, neglect, pass over, send to Coventry; see insult.

shoulder Synonyms

shoulder

v.

shove, jostle, push aside.

shoulder Usage Examples

Object

  • burden: Here, the Islamic governments shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility.

Converse of object

  • rub: She recorded with many bands, and in the 60's rubbed shoulders with the likes of The Beatles.
  • dislocate: Little did they nor I know that a dislocated shoulder could do this severe damage.
  • shrug: Women shrugged impatient shoulders in their warm cloaks and stopped to arrange their skirts for a walk through the storm.
  • stoop: Mary Ann looked anything but healthy with her pale face, deep set eyes, hungry looking figure and stooping shoulders.

Adjective modifier

  • frozen: Back pain, frozen shoulder, no results no fee.
  • left: SKINNER catches his breath, holding his left shoulder.
  • rounded: She has a puckered forehead, a peering expression, and probably rounded shoulders.
  • sloping: Many have a small head, long neck and sloping shoulders.
  • hard: He pulls onto the hard shoulder to take the call.
  • injured: Athlete Nigel Thomson did not compete in the men's 100m - presumably due to his injured shoulder.

Modifies a noun

  • strap: They are supplied in either carry bags with shoulder straps or 900 x 600mm molded, wheeled cases.
  • blade: You will feel the stretch between your shoulder blades.
  • dystocia: Most hospitals now have a policy for dealing with shoulder dystocia, setting out clearly how it should be handled.
  • girdle: If the left is more visible than the right, the shoulder girdle must be rotated to the left in relation to the pelvis.
  • harness: Cool mesh back, padded hip belt and padded shoulder harness with adjustable load positioning straps for good fit.
  • seam: Minimal rucksack rub over shoulder area due to flat fell shoulder seams.

Noun used with modifier

  • rub: Rub shoulders with the jet-set on the promenade at Nice.
  • pork: Meat Sandwiches cannot be described as ham if they are made with pork shoulder.

Preposition: of

  • giant: Heather Morning Climbing a mountain for me is like climbing onto the shoulder of a big friendly giant.
shoulder Quotes

Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet; She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet. She bid metake love easy, asthe leavesgrow on thetree; But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree. In a field by the river my love and I did stand, And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand. She bid metake life easy, as thegrassgrows on the weirs; But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel.

—Ginsberg, Allen

   Revolutions have never lightened the burden of tyranny: they have only shifted it to another shoulder.

—Shaw, George Bernard

The troubles of our proud and angry dust Are from eternity, and shall not fail. Bear them we can, and if we can we must. Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale.

—Housman, A(lfred) E(dward)

They lounge at corners of the street And greet friends with a shrug of shoulder And turn their pockets out, The cynical gestures of the poor.

—Spender, Sir Stephen Harold

New glass skyscrapers stand shoulder to shoulder, reflecting one another narcissistically.

—Talese, Gay

Poetry is a rich, full-blooded whistle, cracked ice crunching in pails, the night that numbers the leaf, the duet of two nightingales, the sweet pea, that has run wild,Creation's tears in shoulder blades.

—Stevens,Wallace