BRIDGE


Meaning of BRIDGE in English

I. bridge 1 S2 W2 /brɪdʒ/ BrE AmE noun

[ Sense 1-3, 5-8: Language: Old English ; Origin: brycg ]

[ Sense 4: Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: biritch 'bridge' (1800-1900) , perhaps from an unrecorded Turkish bir-üç 'one-three' ]

1 . OVER A RIVER/ROAD ETC [countable] a structure built over a river, road etc that allows people or vehicles to cross from one side to the other ⇨ ↑ suspension bridge , ↑ swing bridge

2 . CONNECTION [countable] something that provides a connection between two things SYN link

bridge between/to

The training programme is seen as a bridge between school and work.

a scheme to build bridges (=make a better relationship) between the police and the community

3 . SHIP [countable usually singular] the raised part of a ship from which the officers control it

4 . CARD GAME [uncountable] a card game for four players, who play in pairs

5 . the bridge of your nose the upper part of your nose between your eyes

6 . PAIR OF GLASSES [countable usually singular] the part of a pair of glasses that rests on your nose

7 . MUSICAL INSTRUMENT [countable usually singular] a small piece of wood under the strings of a ↑ violin or ↑ guitar , used to keep them in position

8 . FOR TEETH [countable] a small piece of metal that keeps false teeth in place by attaching them to your real teeth

⇨ burn your bridges at ↑ burn 1 (18), ⇨ cross that bridge when you come to it at ↑ cross 1 (10), ⇨ be (all) water under the bridge at ↑ water 1 (6)

• • •

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs

▪ build a bridge ( also erect a bridge formal )

Finally a new bridge was erected over the road.

▪ cross a bridge

An estimated 150,000 cars cross the bridge each day.

▪ a bridge crosses something

A pretty stone bridge crosses the little river.

▪ a bridge spans something (=crosses a wide area)

By 1875 a railroad bridge spanned the Missouri.

▪ a bridge links something to/with something

There's a road bridge linking the site with Stockton town centre.

■ types of bridge

▪ a stone/wooden/iron bridge

The iron bridge was built in 1811.

▪ a railway bridge British English , a railroad bridge American English (=for trains)

Go under the railway bridge and turn right.

▪ a road bridge (=for cars)

The government plans to construct a new road bridge to the island.

▪ a suspension bridge (=one that hangs from strong steel ropes)

A famous suspension bridge spans the estuary.

▪ a swing bridge British English (=one that can be pulled up for ships to go under)

▪ a toll bridge (=one that you pay to go across)

▪ a humpback bridge British English (=a short bridge with a steep slope at each side)

II. bridge 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]

1 . to reduce or get rid of the difference between two things:

The differences between our two cultures can be bridged if we continue to communicate.

Alvin managed to bridge the gap between ballet and modern dance.

2 . written to build or form a bridge over something:

a fallen tree bridging the stream

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.