shoulder

noun

• 1the upper joint of each of a person’s arms and the part of the body between this and the neck: I was carrying a bag over my shoulder she turned to look at him over her shoulder he tapped me on the shoulder and I looked round
• (in quadrupeds) the joint of the upper forelimb and the adjacent part of the back.
• the part of a bird or insect at which the wing is attached.
• a joint of meat from the upper foreleg and shoulder blade of an animal:a shoulder of lamb
• a part of a garment covering the shoulder:a jacket with padded shoulders
• (shoulders) the upper part of the back and arms:a tall youth with broad shoulders
• (shoulders) a person’s shoulders regarded as bearing responsibility or hardship or providing strength:all accounts place the blame squarely on his shoulders

• 2a part of something resembling a shoulder in shape, position, or function:the shoulder of a pulley
• a point at which a steep slope descends from a plateau or highland area:the shoulder of the hill sloped down a resort sheltered by the shoulder of Ben Nevis

• 3another term for hard shoulder.

verb

• 1 [with object] put (something heavy) over one’s shoulder or shoulders to carry:we shouldered our crippling backpacks and set off slowly up the hill
• take on (a burden or responsibility):the day-to-day work will be shouldered by an action group

• 2 [with object and adverbial of direction] push (someone or something) out of one’s way with one’s shoulder:she shouldered him brusquely aside
• [no object, with adverbial of direction] make progress by shouldering someone or something out of one’s way:he shouldered past a woman with a baby he shouldered his way through the seething mass of children