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shoulder blade
noun
plural shoulder blades
: either of a pair of large, flat, triangular-shaped bones that lie above the rib cage on either side of the upper back : scapula
a fractured shoulder blade
He has a wing-shaped tribal tattoo between his shoulder blades.—
Cliff Mehrtens
… types who didn't wash and grew hair to their shoulder blades.—
Curtis W. Casewit
Examples of shoulder blade in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a new study published in Science this month, a team of biologists used tiny tags attached between bats’ shoulder blades to track their movements.
—
Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025
Focus on using your back and shoulder muscles — squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top — and avoid rotating your chest and shoulders.
—
Hilary Achauer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Shoulders Dynamic: Shoulder Rolls With your arms by your sides or outstretched, draw your shoulders up towards your ears, then down your back, feeling your shoulder blades rise and lower.
—
Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 13 Dec. 2024
All of this can lead to pain in the back of the shoulder and shoulder blades, as well as tightness and sensitivity in the chest, among other issues.
—
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of shoulder blade was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near shoulder blade
Cite this Entry
“Shoulder blade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoulder%20blade. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
shoulder blade
noun
: the flat triangular bone of the back of the shoulder that forms a joint with the humerus of the upper arm
called also scapula
Medical Definition
shoulder blade
noun
: scapula
More from Merriam-Webster on shoulder blade
Nglish: Translation of shoulder blade for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shoulder blade
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