Definition for shoulder - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	shoulder (shoul\|der) Pronunciation: /ˈʃəʊldə/ 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* Phrases be looking over one's shoulders be anxious or insecure about a possible danger: takeovers are the thing that keeps suppliers looking over their shoulders put one's shoulder to the wheel set to work vigorously. rub shoulders with see rub. shoulder arms hold a rifle against the right side of the body, barrel upwards: he shouldered arms and retreated a shoulder to cry on someone who listens sympathetically to someone’s problems: he was a fatherly shoulder to cry on when the going was tough shoulder to shoulder side by side: everyone is bunched together shoulder to shoulder acting together towards a common aim; with united effort: we fought shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the country straight from the shoulder see straight. Derivatives shouldered adjective [in combination]: broad-shouldered Origin: Old English sculdor, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch schouder and German Schulter		Search results in the dictionary shoulder-in drop shoulder (also dropped shoulder) hard shoulder shoulder bag shoulder belt shoulder-high More results » More words in this category acinus corpus callosum cranio- cribriform epicondyle epigastrium interlobular juxtaglomerular lumbar metacarpal myometrium oropharynx perimysium putamen spleen teres thyroid tonsil ultimobranchial vagina Nearby Words shotgun cloning shotgun marriage shotgun microphone shotmaking Shotokan shotted shotten herring shottist should shoulder shoulder bag shoulder belt shoulder blade shoulder charge shoulder harness shoulder holster shoulder joint shoulder knot shoulder pad