shoulder Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
  2. noun a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg
  3. noun a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula
    shoulder joint; articulatio humeri.
  4. noun the part of a garment that covers or fits over the shoulder
    • an ornamental gold braid on the shoulder of his uniform
  5. noun a narrow edge of land (usually unpaved) along the side of a road
    berm.
    • the car pulled off onto the shoulder
  6. verb lift onto one's shoulders
  7. verb push with the shoulders
    • He shouldered his way into the crowd
  8. verb carry a burden, either real or metaphoric
    • shoulder the burden

WordNet

Shoul"der noun
Etymology
OE. shulder, shuldre, schutder, AS. sculdor; akin to D. schoulder, G. schulter, OHG. scultarra, Dan. skulder, Sw. skuldra.
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) The joint, or the region of the joint, by which the fore limb is connected with the body or with the shoulder girdle; the projection formed by the bones and muscles about that joint.
  2. The flesh and muscles connected with the shoulder joint; the upper part of the back; that part of the human frame on which it is most easy to carry a heavy burden; -- often used in the plural.
    Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore The gates of Azza. Milton.
    Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair. Dryden.
  3. Fig.: That which supports or sustains; support.
    In thy shoulder do I build my seat. Shak.
  4. That which resembles a human shoulder, as any protuberance or projection from the body of a thing.
    The north western shoulder of the mountain. Sir W. Scott.
  5. The upper joint of the fore leg and adjacent parts of an animal, dressed for market; as, a shoulder of mutton.
  6. (Fort.) The angle of a bastion included between the face and flank. See Illust. of Bastion.
  7. An abrupt projection which forms an abutment on an object, or limits motion, etc., as the projection around a tenon at the end of a piece of timber, the part of the top of a type which projects beyond the base of the raised character, etc.
Shoul"der transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Shouldered ; present participle & verbal noun Shouldering
Definitions
  1. To push or thrust with the shoulder; to push with violence; to jostle.
    As they the earth would shoulder from her seat. Spenser.
    Around her numberless the rabble flowed, Shouldering each other, crowding for a view. Rowe.
  2. To take upon the shoulder or shoulders; as, to shoulder a basket; hence, to assume the burden or responsibility of; as, to shoulder blame; to shoulder a debt.
    As if Hercules Or burly Atlas shouldered up their state. Marston.

Webster 1913