BRIDGE

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bridge mean? 

• BRIDGE (noun)
  The noun BRIDGE has 9 senses:

1. a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
2. a circuit consisting of two branches (4 arms arranged in a diamond configuration) across which a meter is connected
3. something resembling a bridge in form or function
4. the hard ridge that forms the upper part of the nose
5. any of various card games based on whist for four players
6. a wooden support that holds the strings up
7. a denture anchored to teeth on either side of missing teeth
8. the link between two lenses; rests on nose
9. an upper deck where a ship is steered and the captain stands

  Familiarity information: BRIDGE used as a noun is familiar.

• BRIDGE (verb)
  The verb BRIDGE has 3 senses:

1. connect or reduce the distance between
2. make a bridge across
3. cross over on a bridge

  Familiarity information: BRIDGE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BRIDGE (noun)

Sense 1

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bridge; span

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Meronyms (parts of "bridge"):

arch ((architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it)

pier (a support for two adjacent bridge spans)

trestle (a supporting tower used to support a bridge)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bridge"):

rope bridge (a bridge consisting of ropes)

steel arch bridge (a steel bridge constructed in the form of an arch)

suspension bridge (a bridge that has a roadway supported by cables that are anchored at both ends)

trestle bridge (a bridge supported by trestlework)

truss bridge (a bridge supported by trusses)

viaduct (bridge consisting of a series of arches supported by piers used to carry a road (or railroad) over a valley)

bateau bridge; floating bridge; pontoon bridge (a temporary bridge built over a series of pontoons)

flyover; flypast; overpass (bridge formed by the upper level of a crossing of two highways at different levels)

Bailey bridge (a temporary bridge designed for rapid construction)

cantilever bridge (bridge constructed of two cantilevers that meet in the middle)

cattle grid; cattle guard (a bridge over a ditch consisting of parallel metal bars that allow pedestrians and vehicles to pass, but not cattle)

covered bridge (a bridge whose passageway is protected by a roof and enclosing sides)

drawbridge; lift bridge (a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it)

footbridge; overcrossing; pedestrian bridge (a bridge designed for pedestrians)

Holonyms ("bridge" is a part of...):

transit; transportation; transportation system (a facility consisting of the means and equipment necessary for the movement of passengers or goods)

Sense 2

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A circuit consisting of two branches (4 arms arranged in a diamond configuration) across which a meter is connected

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bridge circuit; bridge

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

circuit; electric circuit; electrical circuit (an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bridge"):

Wheatstone bridge (a bridge used to measure resistances)

Sense 3

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Something resembling a bridge in form or function

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

his letters provided a bridge across the centuries

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

connectedness; connection; connexion (a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it))

Sense 4

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The hard ridge that forms the upper part of the nose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Context example:

her glasses left marks on the bridge of her nose

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

anatomical structure; bodily structure; body structure; complex body part; structure (a particular complex anatomical part)

Meronyms (parts of "bridge"):

nasal; nasal bone; os nasale (an elongated rectangular bone that forms the bridge of the nose)

Holonyms ("bridge" is a part of...):

nose; olfactory organ (the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals)

Sense 5

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Any of various card games based on whist for four players

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)

Meronyms (parts of "bridge"):

contract; declaration ((contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make)

bid; bidding ((bridge) the number of tricks a bridge player is willing to contract to make)

ruff; trumping ((card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit)

slam; sweep (winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge)

Domain member category:

overbid (to bid for more tricks than one can expect to win,)

outbid (bid over an opponent's bid when one's partner has not bid or doubled)

preempt (make a preemptive bid in the game of bridge)

declare (designate (a trump suit or no-trump) with the final bid of a hand)

raise (bid (one's partner's suit) at a higher level)

doubleton ((bridge) a pair of playing cards that are the only cards in their suit in the hand dealt to a player)

overbid; overcall ((bridge) a bid that is higher than your opponent's bid (especially when your partner has not bid at all and your bid exceeds the value of your hand))

major suit ((bridge) a suit of superior scoring value, either spades or hearts)

minor suit (( bridge) a suit of inferior scoring value, either diamonds or clubs)

stopper ((bridge) a playing card with a value sufficiently high to insure taking a trick in a particular suit)

bid; bidding ((bridge) the number of tricks a bridge player is willing to contract to make)

takeout ((bridge) a bid that asks your partner to bid another suit)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bridge"):

bridge whist (the earliest form of bridge; the dealer could name the trump suit)

auction; auction bridge (a variety of bridge in which tricks made in excess of the contract are scored toward game; now generally superseded by contract bridge)

contract; contract bridge (a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid)

Sense 6

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A wooden support that holds the strings up

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

support (any device that bears the weight of another thing)

Holonyms ("bridge" is a part of...):

stringed instrument (a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound)

Sense 7

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A denture anchored to teeth on either side of missing teeth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bridgework; bridge

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

dental plate; denture; plate (a dental appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth)

Sense 8

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The link between two lenses; rests on nose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

nosepiece; bridge

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

link; linkup; tie; tie-in (a fastener that serves to join or connect)

Holonyms ("bridge" is a part of...):

eyeglasses; glasses; specs; spectacles (optical instrument consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision)

Sense 9

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

An upper deck where a ship is steered and the captain stands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bridge deck; bridge

Hypernyms ("bridge" is a kind of...):

upper deck (a higher deck)

Meronyms (parts of "bridge"):

pilothouse; wheelhouse (an enclosed compartment from which a vessel can be navigated)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bridge"):

fly bridge; flybridge; flying bridge; monkey bridge (the highest navigational bridge on a ship; a small (often open) deck above the pilot house)

conning tower (a raised bridge on a submarine; often used for entering and exiting)

• BRIDGE (verb)

Sense 1

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Connect or reduce the distance between

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

bridge; bridge over

Hypernyms (to "bridge" is one way to...):

connect; link; link up; tie (connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Also:

bridge over (suffice for a period between two points)

Sense 2

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Make a bridge across

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

bridge a river

Hypernyms (to "bridge" is one way to...):

bring together; join (cause to become joined or linked)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

bridge [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cross over on a bridge

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "bridge" is one way to...):

cover; cross; cut across; cut through; get across; get over; pass over; track; traverse (travel across or pass over)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something