bridge

noun, verb — 39 senses

bridge

noun

/bɹɪd͡ʒ/

Etymology

From Middle English brigge, from Old English brycġ (“bridge”), from Proto-Germanic *brugjō, *brugjǭ (“bridge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw-, *bʰrēw- (“wooden flooring, decking, bridge”). Cognates Cognate with Scots brig, brigg (“bridge”), Yola burge (“bridge”), North Frisian brag, Bröch (“bridge”), Saterland Frisian Brääch, Brääg (“bridge”), West Frisian brêge (“bridge”), Dutch brug (“bridge”), German Brücke (“bridge”), Limburgish brögk (“bridge”), Luxembourgish Bréck (“bridge”), Vilamovian bryk (“bridge”), Yiddish בריק (brik, “bridge”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål brygge (“jetty, pier, wharf”), Faroese, Icelandic bryggja (“pier”), Norwegian Nynorsk brygge, bryggje (“jetty, pier, wharf”), Swedish brygga (“bridge; pier”). The verb is from Middle English briggen, from Old English brycġian (“to bridge, make a causeway, pave”), derived from the noun. Cognate with Dutch bruggen (“to bridge”), Middle Low German bruggen (“to bridge”), Old High German bruccōn (“to bridge”) (whence Modern German brücken). The sense of a part of a stringed instrument is a semantic loan from German Steg, from Old High German steg.

31 senses
  1. 1A construction spanning a waterway, ravine, or valley…
  2. 2The upper bony ridge of the human nose.
  3. 3A prosthesis replacing one or several adjacent teeth.
  4. 4The gap between the holes on a bowling ball
  5. 5An elevated platform above the upper deck of a…
  6. 6The piece, on string instruments, that supports the…
  7. 7A particular form of one hand placed on the table to…
  8. 8A cue modified with a convex arch-shaped notched head…
  9. 9Anything supported at the ends and serving to keep some…
  10. 10A defensive position in which the wrestler is supported…
  11. 11A similar position in gymnastics.
  12. 12A connection, real or abstract.
  13. 13A rudimentary procedure before definite solution
  14. 14A device which connects two or more computer buses…
  15. 15A software component connecting two or more separate systems.
  16. 16A system which connects two or more local area networks…
  17. 17An intramolecular valence bond, atom or chain of atoms…
  18. 18An unintended solder connection between two or more…
  19. 19A contrasting section within a song that prepares for…
  20. 20An edge which, if removed, changes a connected graph to…
  21. 21A point in a line where a break in a word unit cannot occur.
  22. 22A statement, such as an offer, that signals a…
  23. 23A day falling between two public holidays and…
  24. 24In turtles, the connection between the plastron and the carapace.
  25. 25The part of a pair of glasses that connects the lenses.
  26. 26Any of several electrical devices that measure…
  27. 27A low wall or vertical partition in the fire chamber of…
  28. 28The situation where a lone rider or small group of…
  29. 29A solid crust of undissolved salt in a water softener.
  30. 30An elongated chain of teammates, connected to the pack…
  31. 31A form of cheating by which a card is cut by previously…

› A construction or natural feature that spans…

1

A construction spanning a waterway, ravine, or valley from a height, allowing for the passage of vehicles, pedestrians, trains, etc.

  • The rope bridge crosses the river.
  • It was a beautiful view from the Brooklyn Bridge.
2 more examples
  • Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet: or anon we shot into a clearing, with a colored glimpse of the lake and its curving shore far below us.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
  • Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.2013 June 29, “High and wet”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 28:
2

Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences The upper bony ridge of the human nose.

  • Rugby players often break the bridge of their noses.
3

Dentistry, Medicine, Sciences A prosthesis replacing one or several adjacent teeth.

  • The dentist pulled out the decayed tooth and put in a bridge.
4

Bowling, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The gap between the holes on a bowling ball

› An arch or superstructure.

5

Nautical, Transport An elevated platform above the upper deck of a mechanically propelled ship from which it is navigated and from which all activities on deck can be seen and controlled by the captain, etc; smaller ships have a wheelhouse, and sailing ships were controlled from a quarterdeck.

  • The first officer is on the bridge.
6

Arts, Crafts, Entertainment, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Lutherie, Music The piece, on string instruments, that supports the strings from the sounding board.

7

Ball games, Billiards, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Pool, Snooker, Sports A particular form of one hand placed on the table to support the cue when making a shot in cue sports.

8

Ball games, Billiards, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Pool, Snooker, Sports A cue modified with a convex arch-shaped notched head attached to the narrow end, used to support a player's (shooter's) cue for extended or tedious shots. Also called a spider.

9

Anything supported at the ends and serving to keep some other thing from resting upon the object spanned, as in engraving, watchmaking, etc., or which forms a platform or staging over which something passes or is conveyed.

10

Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Martial arts, Military, Politics, Sports, War, Wrestling A defensive position in which the wrestler is supported by his feet and head, belly-up, in order to prevent touch-down of the shoulders and eventually to dislodge an opponent who has established a position on top.

11

Gymnastics, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A similar position in gymnastics.

12

A connection, real or abstract.

  • Yes, France is geographically situated in a key position so far as Western Europe is concerned. They are really the bridge between Germany, Spain and Italy. And it was necessary to have a NATO organization that was unified and France was a necessary member of that organization.1964, Harry S. Truman, 0:18 from the start, in MP2002-479 Former President Truman Recalls Negotiating With DeGaulle and France after WWII, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives Identifier: 595162:
13

Medicine, Sciences A rudimentary procedure before definite solution

  • ECMO is used as a bridge to surgery to stabilize the patient.
14

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A device which connects two or more computer buses, typically in a transparent manner.

  • This chip is the bridge between the front-side bus and the I/O bus.
15

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Programming, Sciences A software component connecting two or more separate systems.

  • The plugin also acts as a bridge with BuddyPress and adds things like the top admin bar, and so on.2011, Thord Daniel Hedengren, Smashing WordPress Themes: Making WordPress Beautiful:
16

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Networking, Physical sciences, Sciences A system which connects two or more local area networks at layer 2 of OSI model.

  • The LAN bridge uses a spanning tree algorithm.
17

Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Physical An intramolecular valence bond, atom or chain of atoms that connects two different parts of a molecule; the atoms so connected being bridgeheads.

18

Business, Electrical engineering, Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics An unintended solder connection between two or more components or pins.

19

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A contrasting section within a song that prepares for the return of the original material section.

  • The lyrics in the song's bridge inverted its meaning.
  • In the bridge of his 2011 song "It Will Rain", Bruno Mars begs his lover not to "say goodbye."
20

Graph theory, Mathematics, Sciences An edge which, if removed, changes a connected graph to one that is not connected.

21

Communications, Journalism, Literature, Media, Poetry, Publishing, Writing A point in a line where a break in a word unit cannot occur.

22

Diplomacy, Government, Politics A statement, such as an offer, that signals a possibility of accord.

23

A day falling between two public holidays and consequently designated as an additional holiday.

24

Biology, Natural sciences In turtles, the connection between the plastron and the carapace.

25

The part of a pair of glasses that connects the lenses.

26

Business, Electrical engineering, Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electronics, Energy, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Any of several electrical devices that measure characteristics such as impedance and inductance by balancing different parts of a circuit

27

A low wall or vertical partition in the fire chamber of a furnace, for deflecting flame, etc.; a bridge wall.

28

Cycling, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The situation where a lone rider or small group of riders closes the space between them and the rider or group in front.

29

A solid crust of undissolved salt in a water softener.

30

An elongated chain of teammates, connected to the pack, for improved blocking potential.

31

Card games, Games A form of cheating by which a card is cut by previously curving it by pressure of the hand.

  • see for the card game of contract bridge.
Derived terms
375 termsa bridge too far, Acton Bridge, aerobridge, air bridge, airbridge, Alexandra Bridge, Apperley Bridge, Appley Bridge, arch bridge, Armitage Bridge, auction bridge, Avonbridge, Bailey bridge, Ballsbridge, Bamber Bridge, Banbridge, Barton and Pooley Bridge, bascule bridge, Bason Bridge, Beam Bridge, Beazleys Bridge, Beitbridge, Bellbridge, Bells Bridge, bicycle bridge, Biffin's bridge, bikini bridge, Bishops Bridge, Blythe Bridge, Bonar Bridge, Boroughbridge, Bow Bridge, bowstring bridge, bridgable, bridgeable, bridge-and-tunnel, bridge and tunnel, bridge-and-tunneler, bridgeboard, bridge-builder, bridgebuilding, bridge-building, bridge bunny, bridge-burner, bridge-burning, bridge coat, Bridge Creek, bridge day, Bridge End, Bridgend, Bridgeford, bridge gang, Bridgegate, bridgekeeper, bridgeless, bridgelike, bridgeline, bridge loan, bridgemaster, bridge mix, bridge mount, bridgeness, Bridgenorth, bridge note, Bridge of Alford, Bridge of Allan, Bridge of Cally, Bridge of Don, Bridge of Dun, Bridge of Earn, Bridge of Gairn, bridge of no return, Bridge of Orchy, Bridge of Weir, bridge over troubled waters, bridge pattern, bridge plug, Bridger, bridger, bridge railing, bridge roll, bridge route, Bridges, bridge spider, bridge strike, bridge swallow, bridgetender, bridge the gap, Bridgetown, Bridge Trafford, bridge translation, bridgetree, bridge-ward, bridgeward, bridgewards, Bridgewater, Bridgewater North, Bridgewater On Loddon, bridge whist, bridge wire, bridgewire, bridgework, bridgey, brouter, build a bridge and get over it, build bridges, Buridan's bridge, Burkes Bridge, Burn Bridge, burn one's bridges, Burnt Bridge, burn that bridge when one comes to it, Burscough Bridge, bus bridge, cable-stayed bridge, Cambridge, Cambridge Gardens, Cambridge Gulf, Cambridge Park, Cambridge Plateau, Cameron Bridge, Campbells Bridge, canal bridge, Cape Bridgewater, Carronbridge, catenary bridge, Catterick Bridge, Central Bridge, chain bridge, changeline bridge, clapper bridge, Clayton Bridge, Conon Bridge, contract bridge, Coonooer Bridge, Cornwall Bridge, Cottles Bridge, covered bridge, Cowan Bridge, cross a bridge before one comes to it, crossbridge, cross that bridge when one comes to it, cross that bridge when one gets there, cross that bridge when one gets to it, cyberbridge, Dadswells Bridge, Daltons Bridge, deck bridge, Derwent Bridge, Devil's Bridge, disulfide bridge, Double Bridge, draw-bridge, draw bridge, drawbridge, duckboard bridge, Dunbridge, Dunford Bridge, Dunsop Bridge, duplicate bridge, Eamont Bridge, Egton Bridge, Einstein-Rosen bridge, E-R bridge, ER bridge, Ewood Bridge, Fairbridge, Faulconbridge, Fenny Bridges, floating bridge, flybridge, flying bridge, footbridge, Fords Bridge, forebridge, fore-bridge, frame bridge, glute bridge, go jump off a bridge, Gorebridge, Grays Bridge, Great Bridge, green bridge, Greta Bridge, Guide Bridge, Hamley Bridge, hand bridge, Haydon Bridge, Heap Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Helwith Bridge, Heybridge, High Bridge, hoist bridge, Holmbridge, Horns Bridge, hose bridge, Howe Bridge, Hubberts Bridge, humpback bridge, Hunton Bridge, Hurstbridge, ice bridge, if someone told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it, I have a bridge to sell you, Ironbridge, iron bridge, Islandbridge, Ivybridge, jet bridge, Jones Bridge, Kelvin bridge, Kerne Bridge, Kirwans Bridge, land bridge, lattice bridge, Lea Bridge, leaf bridge, leg bridge, Lethbridge, Lethbridge Park, lift bridge, lifting bridge, London Bridge, low bridge, Mabey bridge, Maguiresbridge, Malin Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Marple Bridge, Maryland bridge, Maxwell bridge, Maxwell-Wien bridge, media bridge, Menai Bridge, Metal Bridge, microbridge, Millbridge, Milnes Bridge, Mongans Bridge, monkey bridge, movable bridge, multibridge, Murray bridge, Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge East, Murray Bridge North, Murray Bridge South, Murray loop bridge, Murrays Bridge, Murrin Bridge, Mylor Bridge, nanobridge, Natural Bridge, Nethy Bridge, Newbridge, Newby Bridge, Newnham Bridge, nonbridge, northbridge, Northbridge, Norton Bridge, nose bridge, oblique bridge, occupation bridge, Old Bridge, Øresund Bridge, Öresund Bridge, Oresund Bridge, overbridge, over bridge, overhead bridge restaurant, packhorse bridge, paint bridge, Park Bridge, Pateley Bridge, Paytens Bridge, pedestrian bridge, Perry Bridge, pivot bridge, platform bridge, Platt Bridge, ponton bridge, pontoon bridge, Pooley Bridge, Pumphreys Bridge, Pye Bridge, rainbow bridge, Ranges Bridge, rebridge, Redbridge, Rhymney Bridge, road bridge, roadbridge, Roman Bridge, rope bridge, Rossbridge, roving bridge, royal auction bridge, Roybridge, Roy Bridge, rubber bridge, Rumbling Bridge, Russells Bridge, salt bridge, Sankey Bridges, Schering bridge, Sennybridge, Shotley Bridge, signal bridge, Skelwith Bridge, skew bridge, skybridge, sleep under the same bridge, Smithy Bridge, snake bridge, snow bridge, southbridge, Sowerby Bridge, space bridge, Spean Bridge, speed bridge, speedbridge, Spences Bridge, Staceys Bridge, Stalybridge, Stamford Bridge, Stanford Bridge, Steen's Bridge, Stonebridge, Stourbridge, straight bridge, Sunderland Bridge, suspension bridge, Sutton Bridge, swing bridge, swingbridge, Tahara Bridge, Teignbridge, telebridge, Three Bridges, through bridge, toll bridge, Tonebridge, Tower Bridge, transporter bridge, Trent Bridge, trestle bridge, truss bridge, Tunbridge, turnover bridge, unbridgeable, underbridge, Uxbridge, vertical-lift bridge, Victoria Bridge, Vierendeel bridge, Wadebridge, Wadsley Bridge, Wando Bridge, water bridge, water under the bridge, weighbridge, Wentbridge, Weybridge, Whaley Bridge, Wheatstone bridge, Whitebridge, Wien bridge, wildlife bridge, wire bridge, Wisemans Bridge, Witton Bridge, Woodbridge, Wootton Bridge

bridge

verb
Etymology

From Middle English brigge, from Old English brycġ (“bridge”), from Proto-Germanic *brugjō, *brugjǭ (“bridge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw-, *bʰrēw- (“wooden flooring, decking, bridge”). Cognates Cognate with Scots brig, brigg (“bridge”), Yola burge (“bridge”), North Frisian brag, Bröch (“bridge”), Saterland Frisian Brääch, Brääg (“bridge”), West Frisian brêge (“bridge”), Dutch brug (“bridge”), German Brücke (“bridge”), Limburgish brögk (“bridge”), Luxembourgish Bréck (“bridge”), Vilamovian bryk (“bridge”), Yiddish בריק (brik, “bridge”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål brygge (“jetty, pier, wharf”), Faroese, Icelandic bryggja (“pier”), Norwegian Nynorsk brygge, bryggje (“jetty, pier, wharf”), Swedish brygga (“bridge; pier”). The verb is from Middle English briggen, from Old English brycġian (“to bridge, make a causeway, pave”), derived from the noun. Cognate with Dutch bruggen (“to bridge”), Middle Low German bruggen (“to bridge”), Old High German bruccōn (“to bridge”) (whence Modern German brücken). The sense of a part of a stringed instrument is a semantic loan from German Steg, from Old High German steg.

1

To be or make a bridge over something.

  • With enough cable, we can bridge this gorge.
  • On this occasion, the damage was far more serious. The sea wall was breached completely for a distance of over 50 yd., and the gap had to be bridged by a temporary timber viaduct.1947 January and February, H. A. Vallance, “The Sea Wall at Dawlish”, in Railway Magazine, page 18:
2

To span as if with a bridge.

  • The two groups were able to bridge their differences.
  • Before another word was spoken Inspector Beedel had appeared, and the grip of bone and muscle on the straining wrists was changed to one of steel. Less than thirty seconds bridged the whole astonishing transformation.1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
1 more example
  • The brooding, black-clad singer bridged a stark divide that emerged in the recording industry in the 1950s, as post-Elvis pop singers diverged into two camps and audiences aligned themselves with either the sideburned rebels of rock 'n' roll or the cowboy-hatted twangsters of country music.2012, Christoper Zara, Tortured Artists: From Picasso and Monroe to Warhol and Winehouse, the Twisted Secrets of the World's Most Creative Minds, part 1, chapter 1, 28:
3

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music To transition from one piece or section of music to another without stopping.

  • We need to bridge that jam into "The Eleven".
4

Communication, Communications, Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences To connect two or more computer buses, networks etc. with a bridge.

5

Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Martial arts, Military, Politics, Sports, War, Wrestling To go to the bridge position.

6

To employ the bridge tactic. (See Noun section.)

Derived terms
bridge up, bridging ligand, bridging loan, bridging visa

bridge

noun

Etymology From the earlier game biritch, probably from Russian бирю́ч (birjúč) or бири́ч (biríč); else from Turkish bir-üç (“one-three”).

1

Card games, Games Any of a certain family of trick-taking card games.

  • Bidding is an essential element of the game of bridge.
2

Card games, Games Usually A card game played with four players playing as two teams of two players each.

  • She played in a bridge tournament in Las Vegas last year.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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