the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
"She winced as she reached up to massage her sore shoulder after carrying a heavy bag for too long."
a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg
"The butcher recommended buying the shoulder roast because it was much cheaper than the tenderloin and still tasted delicious when slow-cooked."
a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula
"The physical therapist warned that lifting heavy boxes could strain his shoulder, specifically damaging the delicate ball-and-socket joint where the upper arm meets the blade bone."
the part of a garment that covers or fits over the shoulder
"an ornamental gold braid on the shoulder of his uniform"
The part of an animal's body between the base of the neck and forearm socket.
"The hiker paused to wipe sweat from his shoulder before continuing up the steep trail."
The part of the human torso forming a relatively horizontal surface running away from the neck.
"She winced in pain when he accidentally bumped her shoulder while walking through the crowded hallway."
In plain English: A shoulder is the part of your body where your arm connects to your neck and back.
"She carried her bag on her shoulder while walking down the street."
Usage: Use shoulder to refer specifically to the upper outer arm area where it meets the neck, distinguishing it from the chest or back. This term applies equally to both humans and animals when describing that specific jointed body part.
lift onto one's shoulders
"When they found him collapsed on the path, two strong hikers lifted him onto their shoulders to carry him home."
To push (a person or thing) using one's shoulder.
"The crowd surged forward, and I had to shove my elbow into a stranger's ribs just to keep from being trampled."
In plain English: To shoulder something means to push it with your shoulder.
"She had to shoulder her heavy backpack up the steep hill."
The word "shoulder" comes from Old English sculdra, where it originally meant the part of the body used to carry loads. Its exact origin is uncertain, though some scholars believe it may be related to the word for "shield."