SHOULDER


Meaning of SHOULDER in English

/ ˈʃəʊldə(r); NAmE ˈʃoʊ-/ noun , verb

■ noun

PART OF BODY

1.

[ C ] either of the two parts of the body between the top of each arm and the neck :

He slung the bag over his shoulder.

She tapped him on the shoulder.

He looked back over his shoulder.

She shrugged her shoulders (= showing that she didn't know or care) .

an off-the-shoulder dress

He carried the child on his shoulders.

—picture at body

-SHOULDERED

2.

(in adjectives) having the type of shoulders mentioned :

broad-shouldered

—see also round-shouldered

CLOTHING

3.

[ C ] the part of a piece of clothing that covers the shoulder :

a jacket with padded shoulders

MEAT

4.

[ U , C ] shoulder (of sth) meat from the top part of one of the front legs of an animal that has four legs

OF MOUNTAIN / BOTTLE, etc.

5.

[ C ] shoulder (of sth) a part of sth, such as a bottle or mountain, that is shaped like a shoulder :

The village lay just around the shoulder of the hill.

SIDE OF ROAD

6.

[ C ] ( NAmE ) an area of ground at the side of a road where vehicles can stop in an emergency :

No shoulder for next 5 miles.

—see also hard shoulder , soft shoulder

IDIOMS

- be looking over your shoulder

- on sb's shoulders

- put your shoulder to the wheel

- a shoulder to cry on

- shoulder to shoulder (with sb)

—more at chip noun , cold adjective , head noun , old , rub verb , straight adverb

■ verb

ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

1.

[ vn ] to accept the responsibility for sth :

to shoulder the responsibility / blame for sth

women who shoulder the double burden of childcare and full-time work

PUSH WITH SHOULDER

2.

[+ adv. / prep. ] to push forward with your shoulder in order to get somewhere :

[ vn ]

He shouldered his way through the crowd and went after her.

[ v ]

She shouldered past a woman with a screaming baby.

3.

[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to push sb/sth out of your way with your shoulder :

He shouldered the man aside.

CARRY ON SHOULDER

4.

[ vn ] to carry sth on your shoulder :

She shouldered her bag and set off home.

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English sculdor , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch schouder and German Schulter .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.