shoulder

1 noun (C)

1 BODY PART one of the two parts of the body at each side of the neck where the arm is connected: Put a shawl around your shoulders in case you get cold. | shrug your shoulders (=raise them to show that you do not know something or do not care): Keith just shrugged his shoulders and said it wasn't his problem.

2 CLOTHES the part of a piece of clothing that covers your shoulders: a jacket with padded shoulders

3 MEAT the upper part of the front leg of an animal that is used for meat: a shoulder of pork

4 a shoulder to cry on someone who gives you sympathy: Ben is always there when I need a shoulder to cry on.

5 shoulder to shoulder working together to achieve the same thing: We worked shoulder to shoulder for five years in that hell-hole.

6 stand shoulder to shoulder with to completely share someone's opinions about something and support them in what they are doing

7 on sb's shoulders if a difficult or unpleasant responsibility is on someone's shoulders, they are the person that has that responsibility: The duty of informing the children's parents fell on the shoulders of Sergeant Flynn. | The blame rests squarely on Jim's shoulders.

8 put your shoulder to the wheel to start to work with great effort and determination

9 ROAD-SIDE AmE an area of ground beside a road where drivers can stop their cars if they are having trouble

—see also: hard shoulder, soft shoulder

10 MOUNTAIN a rounded part of a mountain just below the top

—see also: cry on sb's shoulder cry 1 (4), give sb the cold shoulder cold 1 (8), have a chip on your shoulder chip 1 (5), rub shoulders with rub 1 (6), head and shoulders above the rest head 1 (50), straight from the shoulder straight 1 (9) 2 verb

1 (T) shoulder a responsibility/duty/cost etc to accept a difficult or unpleasant responsibility, duty etc: The residents are being asked to shoulder the costs of the repairs.

2 (T) to lift something onto your shoulder to carry it: They shouldered the boat and took it down to the river.

3 shoulder your way through/into etc to move through a large crowd of people by pushing with your shoulder: She shouldered her way through the onlookers.

4 shoulder arms an order given to a soldier telling him to hold his weapon against his shoulder