n. & v.
n. 1 a a structure carrying a road, path, railway, etc., across a stream, ravine, road, railway, etc. b anything providing a connection between different things (English is a bridge between nations). 2 the superstructure on a ship from which the captain and officers direct operations. 3 the upper bony part of the nose. 4 Mus. an upright piece of wood on a violin etc. over which the strings are stretched. 5 = BRIDGEWORK. 6 Billiards etc. a a long stick with a structure at the end which is used to support a cue for a difficult shot. b a support for a cue formed by a raised hand. 7 = land-bridge.
v.tr. 1 a be a bridge over (a fallen tree bridges the stream). b make a bridge over; span. 2 span as if with a bridge (bridged their differences with understanding). bridge of asses = pons asinorum. bridge of boats a bridge formed by mooring boats together abreast across a river etc. bridge passage Mus. a transitional piece between main themes. bridging loan a loan from a bank etc. to cover the short interval between buying a house etc. and selling another. cross a (or that) bridge when one comes to it deal with a problem when and if it arises. bridgeable adj.
[ OE brycg f. Gmc ]