/ 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 .