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shrug

(shrŭg)

v. shrugged, shrug·ging, shrugs

v.tr.

To raise (the shoulders), especially as a gesture of doubt, disdain, or indifference.

v.intr.

To raise the shoulders, especially as a gesture of doubt, disdain, or indifference.

1. An expressive gesture of raising the shoulders.

2. A very short jacket or sweater, having long or short sleeves and usually worn open down the front.

Phrasal Verb:

shrug off

1. To minimize the importance of: shrugged off the defeat and talked about tonight's game.

2. To get rid of: shrug off a burden.

3. To wriggle out of (clothing).

[Middle English shruggen.]

(click for a larger image)

shrug

red shrug sweater

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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