WEDGE

n. & v. --n. 1 a piece of wood or metal etc. tapering to a sharp edge, that is driven between two objects or parts of an object to secure or separate them. 2 anything resembling a wedge (a wedge of cheese; troops formed a wedge). 3 a golf club with a wedge-shaped head. 4 a a wedge-shaped heel. b a shoe with this. --v.tr. 1 tighten, secure, or fasten by means of a wedge (wedged the door open). 2 force open or apart with a wedge. 3 (foll. by in, into) pack or thrust (a thing or oneself) tightly in or into. øthin end of the wedge colloq. an action or procedure of little importance in itself, but likely to lead to more serious developments. wedge-shaped 1 shaped like a solid wedge. 2 V-shaped. øøwedgelike adj. wedgewise adv. [OE wecg f. Gmc]