Definition of shoulder - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
medicalpart of the body between neck and upper arm
- He shrugged his shoulders in confusion.
2.
clothingupper garment section that covers the joint between neck and arm
- The dress has padded shoulders.
3.
roadsUS strip of land beside a roadUS
- The car pulled over onto the shoulder.
4.
foodcut of meat from upper foreleg
- We roasted a lamb shoulder for dinner.
5.
bottlesRare portion of a bottle where neck meets bodyRare
- The label wraps around the bottle's shoulder.
Verb
1.
movementtr. push something using the shouldertr.
- He shouldered the door open with force.
2.
responsibilitytr. accept responsibility or blametr.
- He shouldered the blame for the team's failure.
3.
bodyintr. move by using one's shouldersintr.
- She shouldered her way through the crowded room.
4.
carryingtr. carry something on one's shoulderstr.
- She shouldered her backpack and left the room.
Images of shoulder

upper garment section that covers the joint between neck and arm 
strip of land beside a road 
portion of a bottle where neck meets body
Expressions with shoulder
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push into a space using one's shoulder
He had to shoulder in to get through the crowd.
angel symbolizing conscience in fiction
The shoulder angel advised him to tell the truth.
push someone or something aside using the shoulder
He shouldered aside the crowd to reach the stage.
move past using one's shoulder forcefully
He shouldered past the crowd to reach the stage.
turn your head to see behind you
You look over your shoulder when you hear footsteps behind you.
in a direction to the left and behind
She glanced over the left shoulder to check for traffic.
standing next to each other closely
The soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder in the parade.
light touch on the shoulder
She felt a tap on the shoulder and turned around.
seek comfort by sharing sadness with someone
After the breakup, she cried on a shoulder.
seek comfort from someone by sharing troubles
She needed to cry on her mother's shoulder after the breakup.
apply physical force
He put his shoulder into pushing the car up the hill.
deliberately show no warmth, pushing someone away
After the argument, they received a cold shoulder at the office.
take on a difficult task or responsibility
She had to shoulder the load after her boss left.
someone who listens to your problems
Whenever I'm sad, she's always a shoulder to cry on.
defensive attitude due to past grievances
She has a chip on her shoulder about her upbringing.
tendency to be easily offended
She always seems to have a chip on her shoulder, taking everything personally.
continue to work hard and with determination
She kept her shoulder to the wheel to finish the project.
check surroundings due to fear or caution
He always looks over his shoulder when walking alone at night.
monitor someone closely, making them feel watched
I can't work with you looking over my shoulder.
accept responsibility for something bad
He decided to shoulder the blame for the team's failure.
carry a heavy load or duty
He shouldered the burden of caring for his sick parents.
take on the burden of tasks or duties
He decided to shoulder the responsibilities of the project alone.
accept and deal with a difficult task
She had to shoulder the responsibility of leading the team.
road edge unsuitable for driving
He warned me not to drive on the soft shoulder.
Origin of shoulder
Old English, sculdor (shoulder)
Terms with shoulder included in their meaning
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medical
bone joining the shoulder and breastbone
messenger bag
rectangular bag with a shoulder strap and flap
clothing
sleeve extending from shoulder to wrist
shoulder carry
bag with a long strap worn across the body
meat
steak cut from a pig's shoulder
clothing
sleeveless shirt with low neck and shoulder straps
medical
the part of the arm from elbow to shoulder
throwing
with the hand swung below shoulder level
medical
the hollow under the arm at the shoulder
hand gesture
gesture of slapping palms below shoulder height
accessory
small bag carried on the shoulder
hanging
hang something loosely over a shoulder or object
clothing
very thin shoulder strap on clothing
sports
throw with the arm below shoulder level
fashion
sleeve tight at wrist, rounded from elbow to shoulder
motion
with hand swung below shoulder level
sports
in a style with hand below shoulder
sports
performed with the hand below shoulder level
looking behind
quick look over the shoulder to see behind
meat
tender beef steak cut from the steer's shoulder
accessory
shoulder bag for men to carry personal items
clothing
sleeve that is wide and rounded at the shoulder
fashion
bag worn over one shoulder with a strap
weaponry
shoulder-held rocket launcher used as an antitank weapon
Examples of shoulder in a sentence
The bag slipped off his shoulder. The jacket's shoulders were too broad for him. She admired the intricate embroidery on the shoulders. They parked the bike on the shoulder for a break. The truck was stranded on the shoulder after a breakdown. The butcher recommended the pork shoulder for slow cooking.
She seasoned the beef shoulder with herbs and spices. The bottle's shoulder was adorned with intricate designs. Dust collected on the shoulder of the old wine bottle. He shouldered his way through the crowded room. She shouldered the heavy bag with determination. She shouldered the responsibility for the project's failure. They shouldered the burden of caring for their parents. He shouldered past the reporters without speaking. They shouldered through the packed doorway. He shouldered the heavy load without complaint. They shouldered the responsibility together.
View all translations of shoulder
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:épaule, bousculer, ...
- German:Schulter, stoßen, ...
- Italian:spalla, spingere con la spalla, ...
- Spanish:hombro, empujar, ...
- Portuguese:ombro, ombrear, ...
- Chinese:肩膀, 用肩膀推, ...
- Japanese:肩, 肩で押す, ...
- Arabic:كَتِف, نَكَب, ...
- Hebrew:כָּתֵף, לִדְחוֹף בַּכָּתֵף, ...
- Russian:плечо, толкать плечом, ...
- Ukrainian:плече, штовхати, ...
- Hindi:कंधा, कंधे से धक्का देना, ...

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