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bridge

[ brij ]

/ brɪdʒ /

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See synonyms for: bridge / bridges / bridging on Thesaurus.com

Definition of bridge

noun

a 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.

verb (used with object), bridged, bridg·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), bridged, bridg·ing.

Foundry. (of molten metal) to form layers or areas heterogeneous either in material or in degree of hardness.

adjective

(especially of clothing) less expensive than a manufacturer's most expensive products: showing his bridge line for the fall season.

OTHER WORDS FOR bridge

21 traverse, cross, vault.

22 link, connect; unite.

See synonyms for bridge on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

First recorded before 1000; Middle English brigge, brugge, bregge, Old English brycg, bricg; cognate with Dutch brug, German Brücke; akin to Old Norse bryggja “gangway; pier”

OTHER WORDS FROM bridge

bridge·a·ble, adjectivebridge·less, adjectivebridge·like, adjectiveun·bridge·a·ble, adjective

un·bridged, adjective

Words nearby bridge

bride price, bridesmaid, bridewell, Bridey, bridezilla, bridge, bridgeboard, bridge chair, bridge circuit, bridge cloth, bridge deck

Other definitions for bridge (2 of 2)

bridge²

[ brij ]

/ brɪdʒ /

noun Cards.

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

First recorded in 1885–90; earlier also spelling britch, biritch; of obscure origin; perhaps from Turkish bir “one” + üç “three” (one hand being exposed while the other three are concealed), but such a name for the game is not attested in Turkey or the Near East, from where it is alleged to have been introduced into Europe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bridge in a sentence

It’s over 10 years old, employs more than 150 people, and successfully bridged the Series A gap in Europe closing a round of $20M back in 2018.
Sophie Hill on the changing face of retail and surviving 2020|Margaret Trainor|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
Investments into entrepreneurs in disenfranchised communities provide a crucial path for creating lasting positive change, and the Opportunity Zone legislation builds bridges for such investment.
Opportunity Zones haven’t fully reached their potential, but don’t write them off yet|jakemeth|September 16, 2020|Fortune
The freeway to San Francisco will need to be raised, and to the east, a new bridge will be required to connect the community of Point Richmond to the city of Berkeley.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration|by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
Although Firestein explains that Newton’s laws of motion are “great for launching satellites and building bridges, his idea about how gravity works was wrong.”
A secret of science: Mistakes boost understanding|Rachel Kehoe|September 10, 2020|Science News For Students

Of course, it’s harder to get to know people in this age of social distancing, but fortunately, the Internet is a handy tool you can use to bridge those gaps.
Networking 101: Why Working Together Creates More Opportunity Than Working Apart|Shantel Holder|September 4, 2020|Essence.com
His most recent assignment was the 84th Precinct, at the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The same night the “dead cops” chant was recorded, two police officers were attacked on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Today, the train chugs north out of Kanchanaburi over the famous bridge before it hits a spectacular bend in the river.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway|Liza Foreman|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Linsker initially escaped after the clash on the bridge but was arrested a short time later.
The High-Priced Union Rep Charged With Attacking a Cop|Jacob Siegel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The golden bridge for the departing lover I have always, I hope, provided when it became necessary,” he says.
Owning Up to Possession’s Downside|Samantha Harvey|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The engineer officer charged with preparing the line of retreat reported that the one bridge across the Elster was not sufficient.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It was a direct lie to tell the Austrian commander that an armistice had been arranged and the bridge ceded to the French.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The ruse by which he and Lannes captured the bridge below Vienna was discreditable no doubt from the point of view of morality.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
"There is a bridge up yonder, monsieur," returned the servant, thankful to have the conversation changed.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
They crossed the bridge and rode up the gently rising, bare, and rugged ground towards Condillac.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for bridge (1 of 3)

bridge¹

/ (brɪdʒ) /

noun

a structure that spans and provides a passage over a road, railway, river, or some other obstacle

something that resembles this in shape or functionhis 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 structureCompare 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

verb (tr)

to build or provide a bridge over something; spanto bridge a river

to connect or reduce the distance betweenlet us bridge our differences

Derived forms of bridge

bridgeable, adjectivebridgeless, adjective

Word Origin for bridge

Old English brycg; related to Old Norse bryggja gangway, Old Frisian bregge, Old High German brucka, Danish, Swedish bro

British Dictionary definitions for bridge (2 of 3)

bridge²

/ (brɪdʒ) /

noun

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 playersSee also contract bridge, duplicate bridge, rubber bridge, auction bridge

Word Origin for bridge

C19: of uncertain origin, but compare Turkish bir-üç (unattested phrase) one-three (said perhaps to refer to the one exposed hand and the three players' hands)

British Dictionary definitions for bridge (3 of 3)

Bridge

/ (brɪdʒ) /

noun

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

Medical definitions for bridge

bridge

[ brĭj ]

An anatomical structure resembling a bridge or span.

The upper part of the ridge of the nose formed by the nasal bones.

A fixed or removable replacement for one or several but not all of the natural teeth, usually anchored at each end to a natural tooth.

One of the threads of protoplasm that appears to pass from one cell to another.

Scientific definitions for bridge

bridge

[ brĭj ]

A structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier, such as a river or roadway.

Other Idioms and Phrases with bridge

bridge

see burn one's bridges; cross that bridge when one comes to it; water over the dam (under the bridge).

bridge

Definition of bridge

OTHER WORDS FOR bridge

Idioms about bridge

Origin of bridge

OTHER WORDS FROM bridge

Words nearby bridge

Other definitions for bridge (2 of 2)

Origin of bridge

Words related to bridge

How to use bridge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bridge (1 of 3)

Derived forms of bridge

Word Origin for bridge

British Dictionary definitions for bridge (2 of 3)

Word Origin for bridge

British Dictionary definitions for bridge (3 of 3)

Medical definitions for bridge

Scientific definitions for bridge

Other Idioms and Phrases with bridge