[bridge] n [ME brigge, fr. OE brycg; akin to OHG brucka bridge, OCS bruvuno beam] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle b: a time, place, or means of connection or transition
2: something resembling a bridge in form or function: as a: the upper bony part of the nose; also: the part of a pair of glasses that rests upon it b: a piece raising the strings of a musical instrument--see violin illustration c: the forward part of a ship's superstructure from which the ship is navigated d: gantry 2b e: the hand as a rest for a billiards or pool cue; also: a device used as a cue rest 3 a: a musical passage linking two sections of a composition b: a partial denture anchored to adjacent teeth c: a connection (as an atom or group of atoms) that joins two different parts of a molecule (as opposite sides of a ring)
4: an electrical instrument or network for measuring or comparing resistances, inductances, capacitances, or impedances by comparing the ratio of two opposing voltages to a known ratio -- bridge.less adj
[2]bridge vt bridged ; bridg.ing (bef. 12c) 1: to make a bridge over or across "~ the gap"; also: to join by a bridge
2: to provide with a bridge -- bridge.able adj [3]bridge n [alter. of earlier biritch, of unknown origin] (ca. 1897): any of various card games for usu. four players in two partnerships that bid for the right to declare a trump suit, seek to win tricks equal to the final bid, and play with the hand of declarer's partner exposed and played by declarer; esp: contract bridge