BRIDGE


Meaning of BRIDGE in English

1. 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).

Phrases and idioms:

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.

Derivatives:

bridgeable adj.

Etymology: OE brycg f. Gmc 2. n. a card-game derived from whist, in which one player's cards are exposed and are played by his or her partner (cf. auction bridge, contract bridge).

Phrases and idioms:

bridge roll a small soft bread roll.

Etymology: 19th c.: orig. unkn.

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.