shoulder

¹shoul·der

noun \ˈshōl-dər\

Definition of SHOULDER

1

a : the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk

b : the region of the body of nonhuman vertebrates that corresponds to the shoulder but is less projecting

2

a : the two shoulders and the upper part of the back —usually used in plural

b plural : capacity for bearing a task or blame <placed the guilt squarely on his shoulders>

3

: a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg and adjacent parts — see lamb illustration

4

: the part of a garment at the wearer's shoulder

5

: an area adjacent to or along the edge of a higher, more prominent, or more important part: as

a (1) : the part of a hill or mountain near the top (2) : a lateral protrusion or extension of a hill or mountain

b : either edge of a roadway; specifically : the part of a roadway outside of the traveled way

6

: a rounded or sloping part (as of a stringed instrument or a bottle) where the neck joins the body

— shoul·dered \-dərd\ adjective

Examples of SHOULDER

1. He rested the baby's head on his shoulder.
2. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.
3. She carried a backpack on one shoulder.
4. The horse is five feet high at the shoulder.
5. We had pork shoulder for dinner.

Origin of SHOULDER

Middle English sholder, from Old English sculdor; akin to Old High German scultra shoulder

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with SHOULDER

boulder, folder, holder, molder, polder, scolder, smolder

²shoulder

verb

shoul·deredshoul·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of SHOULDER

transitive verb

1

: to push or thrust with or as if with the shoulder : jostle <shouldered his way through the crowd>

2

a : to place or bear on the shoulder <shouldered her knapsack>

b : to assume the burden or responsibility of <shoulder the blame>

intransitive verb

: to push with or as if with the shoulders aggressively

Examples of SHOULDER

1. He shouldered the blame for the project's failure.
2. The company will shoulder the costs of the repairs.
3. She shouldered the full burden of raising three children.
4. He shouldered the door open.
5. She shouldered through the crowd.
6. She shouldered her way through the crowd.
7. The soldiers shouldered their rifles and marched away.

First Known Use of SHOULDER

14th century

Related to SHOULDER

Synonyms

accept, bear, assume, take over, undertake

Antonyms

disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate

Related Words

adopt, embrace, take up; advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), espouse, stand by, support, uphold; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent; reaccept, reassume

Near Antonyms

abjure, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; decline, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from); avoid, bypass, detour; abandon, abnegate, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; back down, back off, backtrack

shoul·der

noun \ˈshōl-dər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SHOULDER

1

: the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk

2

: the two shoulders and the upper part of the back—usually used in plural