bridge
1a structure spanning and providing passage over a river, chasm, road, or the like.
a connecting, transitional, or intermediate route or phase between two adjacent elements, activities, conditions, or the like: Working at the hospital was a bridge between medical school and private practice.
Nautical.
a raised transverse platform from which a power vessel is navigated: often includes a pilot house and a chart house.
any of various other raised platforms from which the navigation or docking of a vessel is supervised.
a bridge house or bridge superstructure.
a raised walkway running fore-and-aft.
Anatomy. the ridge or upper line of the nose.
Dentistry. an artificial replacement, fixed or removable, of a missing tooth or teeth, supported by natural teeth or roots adjacent to the space.
Music.
a thin, fixed wedge or support raising the strings of a musical instrument above the sounding board.
a transitional, modulatory passage connecting sections of a composition or movement.
(in jazz and popular music) the contrasting third group of eight bars in a thirty-two-bar chorus; channel; release.
Also bridge passage . a passage in a literary work or a scene in a play serving as a movement between two other passages or scenes of greater importance.
Ophthalmology. the part of a pair of eyeglasses that joins the two lenses and rests on the bridge or sides of the nose.
Also called bridge circuit .Electricity. a two-branch network, including a measuring device, as a galvanometer, in which the unknown resistance, capacitance, inductance, or impedance of one component can be measured by balancing the voltage in each branch and computing the unknown value from the known values of the other components.: Compare Wheatstone bridge.
Railroads. a gantry over a track or tracks for supporting waterspouts, signals, etc.
Building Trades. a scaffold built over a sidewalk alongside a construction or demolition site to protect pedestrians and motor traffic from falling materials.
Metallurgy.
a ridge or wall-like projection of fire brick or the like, at each end of the hearth in a metallurgical furnace.
any layer of partially fused or densely compacted material preventing the proper gravitational movement of molten material, as in a blast furnace or cupola, or the proper compacting of metal powder in a mold.
(in a twist drill) the conoid area between the flutes at the drilling end.
Billiards, Pool.
the arch formed by the hand and fingers to support and guide the striking end of a cue.
a notched piece of wood with a long handle, used to support the striking end of the cue when the hand cannot do so comfortably; rest.
transitional music, commentary, dialogue, or the like, between two parts of a radio or television program, podcast, or other broadcast.
Theater.
a gallery or platform that can be raised or lowered over a stage and is used by technicians, stagehands, etc., for painting scenery (paint bridge ), arranging and supporting lights (light bridge ), or the like.
British. a part of the floor of a stage that can be raised or lowered.
Horology. a partial plate, supported at both ends, holding bearings on the side opposite the dial.: Compare cock1 (def. 10).
Chemistry. a valence bond illustrating the connection of two parts of a molecule.
a support or prop, usually timber, for the roof of a mine, cave, etc.
any arch or rooflike figure formed by acrobats, dancers, etc., as by joining and raising hands.
to make a bridge or passage over; span: The township was laid out on the north bank in 1873, and the river was bridged in 1874. We believe there is a fundamental gulf between the parties, and no further bargaining will bridge that divide.
to join by or as if by a bridge: A ladder bridged the two porches for access while we were repairing the steps.Using intentional strategies to bridge between a child’s home language and English in the early years will lead to stronger language skills in the future.
to make (a way) by a bridge.
Foundry. (of molten metal) to form layers or areas heterogeneous either in material or in degree of hardness.
(especially of clothing) less expensive than a manufacturer's most expensive products: showing his bridge line for the fall season.
Idioms about bridge
bridge the gap, See entry at bridge the gap.
burn one's bridges (behind one), to eliminate all possibilities of retreat; make one's decision irrevocable: She burned her bridges when she walked out angrily.
Origin of bridge
1Other words for bridge
Other words from bridge
- bridge·a·ble, adjective
- bridge·less, adjective
- bridge·like, adjective
- un·bridge·a·ble, adjective
- un·bridged, adjective
Other definitions for bridge (2 of 2)
a game derived from whist in which one partnership plays to fulfill a certain declaration against an opposing partnership acting as defenders.: Compare auction bridge, contract (def. 5).
Origin of bridge
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bridge in a sentence
There are clear religious and ideological differences both within U.S. Jewry and within Israel; how can these gaps be bridged?
Pew Survey Raises More Questions About American Jewry | Brent E. Sasley | October 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen Hebron makes it to the media the yawning gap between Hebron and Tel Aviv is bridged for a minute or two.
Israeli Soldiers Dancing at Hebron Wedding Were Probably Not Welcome Guests | Avner Gvaryahu | August 30, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe unprecedented move bridged a gap between the NYPD and CIA that, in retrospect, should not have been bridged.
9 Secrets of the NYPD’s Spy Unit Revealed in ‘Enemies Within’ | Abby Haglage | August 29, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWinters in his 1950s-to-early-1960s prime bridged mainstream and hipster comedy.
Remembering Jonathan Winters: Ken Tucker on the Tragic and Triumphant Life of the Late Comedian | Ken Tucker | April 12, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTBut Richard Ben Cramer bridged those worlds, and made it look—in the reading, at least—easy.
Richard Ben Cramer Dies: Iconic Writer Had an Unerring Ear for Dialogue | John Avlon | January 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Her nose was high bridged, and straight to a point while the mouth below was small and tempting.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxPeople would stop wondering after a while, and the past would be bridged over, as far as was possible.
The Cromptons | Mary J. HolmesHe had the hatchet face of the clever Yankee, alert, sharply defined, with a high-bridged and rather bold English nose.
The Woman Gives | Owen JohnsonTo save her reason, Barbara, with her wonderful tenderness, had bridged over the chasms between her stark peaks of discovery.
Jaffery | William J. LockeIn spite of a straight, high-bridged nose and thin lips, his face indicated weakness.
The Winning Clue | James Hay, Jr.
British Dictionary definitions for bridge (1 of 3)
/ (brɪdʒ) /
a structure that spans and provides a passage over a road, railway, river, or some other obstacle
something that resembles this in shape or function: his letters provided a bridge across the centuries
the hard ridge at the upper part of the nose, formed by the underlying nasal bones
any anatomical ridge or connecting structure: Compare pons
the part of a pair of glasses that rests on the nose
Also called: bridgework a dental plate containing one or more artificial teeth that is secured to the surrounding natural teeth
a platform athwartships and above the rail, from which a ship is piloted and navigated
a piece of wood, usually fixed, supporting the strings of a violin, guitar, etc, and transmitting their vibrations to the sounding board
Also called: bridge passage a passage in a musical, literary, or dramatic work linking two or more important sections
Also called: bridge circuit electronics any of several networks, such as a Wheatstone bridge, consisting of two branches across which a measuring device is connected. The resistance, capacitance, etc, of one component can be determined from the known values of the others when the voltage in each branch is balanced
computing a device that connects networks and sends packets between them
billiards snooker
a support for a cue made by placing the fingers on the table and raising the thumb
a cue rest with a notched end for shots beyond normal reach
theatre
a platform of adjustable height above or beside the stage for the use of stagehands, light operators, etc
mainly British a part of the stage floor that can be raised or lowered
a partition in a furnace or boiler to keep the fuel in place
build bridges to promote reconciliation or cooperation between hostile groups or people
burn one's bridges See burn 1 (def. 19)
cross a bridge when one comes to it to deal with a problem only when it arises; not to anticipate difficulties
to build or provide a bridge over something; span: to bridge a river
to connect or reduce the distance between: let us bridge our differences
Origin of bridge
1Derived forms of bridge
- bridgeable, adjective
- bridgeless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for bridge (2 of 3)
/ (brɪdʒ) /
a card game for four players, based on whist, in which one hand (the dummy) is exposed and the trump suit decided by bidding between the players: See also contract bridge, duplicate bridge, rubber bridge, auction bridge
Origin of bridge
2British Dictionary definitions for Bridge (3 of 3)
/ (brɪdʒ) /
Frank . 1879–1941, English composer, esp of chamber music. He taught Benjamin Britten
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for bridge
[ brĭj ]
A structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier, such as a river or roadway.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with bridge
see burn one's bridges; cross that bridge when one comes to it; water over the dam (under the bridge).
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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