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