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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Foam rollers are good for larger areas, such as the quads or calves, while massage guns can help in spots that are tougher to reach, such as between the shoulder blades. Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 29 Oct. 2024 The pain may travel to the back, usually the right shoulder blade. Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024 Repetitive heavy lifting Repetitive overhead reaching Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Shoulder impingement syndrome (rotator cuff tendonitis) happens when the tendons in your shoulder get squeezed under a bony part of the shoulder blade called the acromion. Sarah Jividen, Health, 11 Oct. 2024 Lady Amelia Windsor has various tattoos, including three bear cubs, a tiger on her left shoulder blade, and a petal on her rib cage. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 28 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shoulder blade 

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 14 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on shoulder blade

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!