shoulder
//ˈʃəʊldə//
Forms
- Plural
- shoulders
- present (v1)
- shoulder
- past (v2)
- shouldered
- past participle (v3)
- shouldered
- present participle
- shouldering
- 3rd person singular
- shoulders
Definitions
1.The part of an animal's body between the base of the neck and arm socket.
- The parrot was sitting on Steve's shoulder.
2.A shelf between two levels.
- He stopped the car on the shoulder of the highway to change the flat tire.
- The shoulders are graded and the verges cleared well back to lessen the chances of hitting stray stock.
3.The flat portion of type that is below the bevelled portion that joins up with the face.
4.Anything forming a shape resembling a human shoulder.
1.To bully, manipulate or pull rank on (somebody).
- He shouldered me out of my own band.
2.To push (a person or thing) using one's shoulder.
- Around her numberless the rabble flowed, / Shouldering each other, crowding for a view.
3.To put (something) on one's shoulders.
- Early in the morning they shouldered light packs, took their rifles, crossed the big draw, and entered the timber where was the deadfall.
- Like a power clean, shouldering a sandbag, lifting it from the floor to your shoulder in one explosive movement, requires a coordinated effort from your core, upper body, and legs.
4.To place (something) against one's shoulders.
- All three sets are nicely sculptured along the bottom to prevent interference when shouldering your gun with proper shooting form.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1239
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Common
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English schuldre, sholder, shulder, schulder, from Old English sċuldra, sċuldor (“shoulder”), from Proto-West Germanic *skuldru (“shoulder”), of uncertain origin.
Perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *skelduz (“shield”), see shield.