bridge
(brɪdʒ )
Word forms: bridges , bridging , bridged
1. countable noun A2
A bridge is a structure that is built over a railway, river, or road so that people or vehicles can cross from one side to the other.
He walked back over the railway bridge.
...the Golden Gate Bridge.
Synonyms: arch, span, viaduct, aqueduct
2. countable noun A2
A bridge between two places is a piece of land that joins or connects them.
...a land bridge linking Serbian territories.
3. verb
To bridge the gap between two people or things means to reduce it or get rid of it.
It is unlikely that the two sides will be able to bridge their differences. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: connect, join, link
4. verb
Something that bridges the gap between two very different things has some of the qualities of each of these things.
...the singer who bridged the gap between pop music and opera. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: reconcile, unite, resolve, overcome
5. countable noun
If something or someone acts as a bridge between two people, groups, or things, they connect them.
We hope this book will act as a bridge between doctor and patient. [+ between]
They saw themselves as a bridge to peace. [+ to]
Synonyms: link, tie, bond, connection
6. countable noun [usually singular]
The bridge is the place on a ship from which it is steered.
7. countable noun [usually singular]
The bridge of your nose is the thin top part of it, between your eyes.
On the bridge of his hooked nose was a pair of gold rimless spectacles. [+ of]
8. countable noun [usually singular]
The bridge of a pair of glasses is the part that rests on your nose.
9. countable noun [usually singular]
The bridge of a violin, guitar, or other stringed instrument is the small piece of wood under the strings that holds them up.
10. countable noun
A bridge is a piece of metal or plastic that holds false teeth in place by connecting them to natural teeth.
11. uncountable noun
Bridge is a card game for four players in which the players begin by declaring how many tricks they expect to win.
12. See also suspension bridge
13. burn one's bridges phrase [VERB inflects]
If you burn your bridges, you do something which forces you to continue with a particular course of action, and makes it impossible for you to return to an earlier situation or relationship.
14. water under the bridge phrase
If you say that an event or incident is water under the bridge, you mean that it has happened and cannot now be changed, so there is no point in worrying about it any more.
He was relieved his time in jail was over and regarded it as water under the bridge.
Image of bridge
© Ulmus Media, Shutterstock
Idioms:
someone will cross that bridge when they come to it
said to mean that someone intends to deal with a problem when, or if, it happens, rather than worrying about the possibility of it happening
`You can't make me talk to you.' `No, but the police can.' `I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.'
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collocations:
bridge a divide bridge club bridge collapses bridge connects bridge links bridge of the nose bridge span bridge the chasm build a bridge burn a bridge close a bridge concrete bridge construct a bridge destroy a bridge iron bridge low bridge narrow bridge open a bridge pedestrian bridge play bridge rail bridge railroad bridge rickety bridge rope bridge temporary bridge wooden bridge
It explores the many ways this particular branch of mathematics can bridge the divide between science and art.
Times, Sunday Times
Technology could have helped to bridge the divide.
Times, Sunday Times
Somehow, we must try to bridge the divide if we want to foster the companies of tomorrow.
Times,Sunday Times
There are other ways to bridge the divide between the digital world and the real one.
Times, Sunday Times
Of course, they're not the first to try to bridge the divide and tempt in a new audience to this traditionally rather fusty corner of classical music.
Times, Sunday Times
You can register in pairs or preferably groups of six pairs and can play in your own home or at a bridge club.
Times, Sunday Times
He also enjoyed playing at his local bridge club twice a week.
Times, Sunday Times
Groups of up to six pairs can register to play within their own homes or at their local bridge club.
Times, Sunday Times
Having joined the bridge club in freshers' week, she soon found herself playing obsessively.
Times, Sunday Times
As well as producing a daily column, he owns probably the most successful bridge club in the country.
Times, Sunday Times
Take out that brick and the bridge collapses.
Times, Sunday Times
The bridge collapses as the third car hits its pylons, the remaining cars and the rear power unit jackknife into the pile.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Only the first few vehicles make it across, as the bridge collapses under the weight of a fuel tanker leaving the last jeep stranded on the northern river bank.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A bridge connects it to a third island to its south.
Times, Sunday Times
A second-story pedestrian bridge connects the two factory buildings and a brick hyphen connects the office building to the north factory building.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A small bridge connects the two centres together.
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A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow strait.
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A bridge connects the island to the mainland.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A glass bridge links both ends to each other at the upper level.
Times, Sunday Times
An enclosed pedestrian bridge links the two platforms.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A modern bridge links the two parts of the city together.
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A new bridge links this building with the area's principal shopping street.
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An enclosed bridge links the site to a multi-storey car park built at the same time adjacent to the town's coach station.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The process involves a small amount of filler being injected into parts of the nose bridge to balance unevenness.
The Sun
One had a fresh cut across the bridge of his nose.
Times, Sunday Times
His injuries included a livid bruise across his forehead and a cut to the bridge of his nose.
The Sun
Sculpt under your cheekbones with the darker shade, then use the paler highlighter across your forehead and along the bridge of your nose.
The Sun
It comes up high on the bridge of the nose, low under the chin and covers full cheeks.
The Sun
Tweed walked out into the overcast Place Bel-Air and crossed a bridge spanning the Rhône.
COVER STORY (2004)
Some unseen clock was striking eight as they crossed the bridge spanning the creek in Springs.
AMAGANSETT (2004)
Now a bridge spanning the legendary site will too.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This resulted in an inept and weak government unable to bridge the chasm between sectarian factions.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Everyone seems to agree that something drastic needs to be done to try to bridge the chasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Deals can't bridge the chasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It requires two of you to use five blocks to build a bridge supported only at each end.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She built a bridge between the facts of cellular anatomy and the facts of molecular genetics.
Infinite in All Directions (1989)
We did some bridge building, where you had to use wooden blocks to build a bridge and see if a boat could go under it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
My favourite part was when you tried to build a bridge and see if a small boat could go under it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In 1966, vandals attempted to burn the bridge down.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
For instance, an army can burn a bridge behind it, making retreat evidently impossible.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The smoke may have been used as cover for the rebels, or the ship may have been used to burn the bridge while the army travelled by water.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Even if it's not for you, don't burn your bridges.
Times, Sunday Times
But be careful not to burn any bridges.
The Sun
This bridge is closed due to adverse weather conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In Wales, dozens of roads were impassable last night and a number of bridges were closed to vehicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The bridge was closed to road traffic while inspectors assessed the damage.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But panic set in when someone wrongly said the concrete bridge was about to collapse.
The Sun
In 200m at dirt road/concrete bridge, descend left bank of river.
Times, Sunday Times
You'll walk over a little concrete bridge and, after about half a mile, a small ford.
Times, Sunday Times
Fill it in with concrete, or with a reinforced concrete or steel slab, or cover it with a concrete bridge.
The Sun
On the far side of a river in the middle of the valley was the township, connected to the main town by a single concrete bridge.
ST
As part of development plans, the government wants to construct a bridge from the village across the river and villagers have to vacate.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The solution was to fill and raise one half of the site to build the centre and construct a bridge across the creek.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The chosen solution was to construct the bridge in the raised position above the old bridge, then demolish the old bridge once construction was completed.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The bridge was built as a design-build project, meaning that one contract was signed to both design and construct the bridge.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
In these conditions it would be almost impossible to construct the bridge without the use of some new construction technology and vehicles.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The construction of a canal will destroy this bridge.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
When their attempt fails, she decides to destroy the bridge herself, hoping that her actions may end the war.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Members of the team will destroy a bridge connecting the town to the main highway, destroy the telephone communications of the town and capture all the police officers.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A few years ago a similar sinkhole destroyed a bridge.
The Sun
She fired thirteen shells the next day in another attempt to destroy the bridge and claimed one hit although this was not confirmed by subsequent observations.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The iron bridge that gave the town its name has stood since 1779.
The Sun
We roll across the iron bridge, and suddenly we're on an unmade road, red dust flying up on to the windscreen.
Times, Sunday Times
This was a modest, bright room with a lovely view overlooking an old iron bridge, a canal and warehouses.
Times, Sunday Times
We walked over the iron bridge.
Times, Sunday Times
And of course you can take a look at the world's first cast iron bridge.
Times, Sunday Times
Not upriver because Rouen has a low bridge which we couldn't possibly get under because of the masts.
CORMORANT (2003)
Now low bridges barred our way.
Times,Sunday Times (2020)
SEVEN people were hurt when the top deck of this bus was ripped off by a low bridge.
The Sun (2008)
Last year there were 13 reported accidents involving a bus or coach striking a low bridge, one of which had fatal consequences.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The narrow bridge takes two cars at a squeeze.
Times, Sunday Times
We circled round to cross the narrow bridge where we had first watched the brook in glorious flow.
Times, Sunday Times
His route included hills, a road-repair zone and a narrow bridge.
Globe and Mail
The bus caused traffic jams and got stuck on a narrow bridge.
Times, Sunday Times
At one point a narrow bridge linked the two islands.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
In the next four years, the government plans to open a new road bridge over the Bosphorus, and two tunnels beneath it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It inaugurated an airport terminal a week ago, and it opened a bridge in Podgorica, the capital, that spans the Moraca river.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The bridge was opened in 1887 and built on the foundations of a Georgian bridge that had to be replaced after structural problems caused in part by the huge crowds that gathered on it to watch early races.
Times,Sunday Times (2020)
Down the street, across a pedestrian bridge, onto another street, the trick was to keep the umbrella facing the wind.
Times,Sunday Times
A pedestrian bridge near the main stadium collapsed yesterday, injuring at least 27 people.
Times, Sunday Times
But a pedestrian bridge collapsed and 150 rooms are still uninhabitable.
The Sun
His blue car was swept away by the volume of water and became wedged beneath a pedestrian bridge more than 200 metres downstream.
Times, Sunday Times
And the run-up has already been blighted by a pedestrian bridge collapse and the partial cave-in of a ceiling in the weightlifting arena.
The Sun
Other people find doing jigsaw puzzles, playing bridge or chess just as relaxing.
Coping with Angina (1990)
We played bridge to pass the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I don't really enjoy playing bridge online.
Times,Sunday Times (2020)
In the past workers were continually painting the 121-year-old steel rail bridge — as by the time they finished the job, it needed doing again.
The Sun
A train full of evacuees was blown off the tracks and the rail bridge to the mainland collapsed.
Times, Sunday Times
The rail bridge, while still adequate for rail traffic, it proved to be a challenge for drivers.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
To cross the river, there was only the wooden rail bridge without walkway or by ferry.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The rail bridge was demolished and an automotive bridge was constructed in its place.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The flaming contents of six spilled chemical cars had burned every piece of wood on a steel-and-timber railroad bridge.
Christianity Today
The railroad bridge was used for the last time in 1982 and was dismantled in 1986.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The first school was a log house located closer to the trestlework or railroad bridge.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Originally built in the 1920s as a railroad bridge, and covered in 1998.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
She reported inflicting seventy-four casualties and scoring hits on a railroad bridge and tracks.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A rickety bridge that was erected as a temporary measure 40-odd years ago.
Times, Sunday Times
The losing team then have to take a leap of faith, literally, when they jump into a dark cave via a very rickety bridge and a trapeze bar.
The Sun
She has fought to build her rickety bridge, and misguidedly fights to save it, even from allies who see the dangers and seek to destroy it.
Times, Sunday Times
This doubles as a quirky restaurant, with rope bridge walkways between its various turreted sections.
The Sun
There seems to be a narrow rope bridge leading from my chair to my desk.
The Times Literary Supplement
The towers are linked by a rope bridge and there's even a secret tunnel hidden under a raised walkway, according to plans submitted to the local council.
The Sun
After a delectable last supper in the tiny, tennis court-sized camp, one of the remaining celebrities will get to walk over the famous rope bridge as the 2015 champion.
The Sun
His mood wasn't improved by a stepping stone arrangement and a rope bridge.
The Sun
The club will function fully in the off-season, however, with the administrative operation being relocated, while a temporary bridge will provide access to the pavilion.
Times, Sunday Times
The local council proposed a temporary bridge on his land to save locals a ten-mile detour.
Times, Sunday Times
Imagine the potential of this type of temporary bridge.
Times, Sunday Times
The transportation department plans to install a temporary bridge by the weekend, but residents were debating constructing a temporary foot bridge.
Globe and Mail
During the repairs a 1,000 foot temporary bridge was placed alongside the cribstone bridge so that traffic could continue without disruption.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
One shows a wooden bridge over a cesspit near the ramps where trains disgorged new arrivals for the life-ordeath selection.
Times, Sunday Times
The ball hit a wooden bridge and disappeared into the water.
The Sun
It replaced a wooden bridge that collapsed 50 years ago.
The Sun
At last, you'll cross a dilapidated wooden bridge and enter a field, in the middle of which you'll find... but that would be telling.
Times, Sunday Times
We were greeted at — you guessed it — a magnificent golden door and then crossed a long wooden bridge.
Times,Sunday Times
Translations:
Chinese: 桥, 克服
Japanese: 橋, 隔たりなどを なくす
- covert surveillance
- cover tune
- cover up
- cover-up
- cover version
- cover with a blanket
- cover your ass
- cover your back
- cover your back
- cover your back/cover your rear
- cover your rear
- cover your tracks
- cover your tracks
- covet
- coveted
- coveted award
- coveted gold
- coveted role
- coveted spot
- coveted ticket
- coveted title
- coveted trophy
- covetous
- covey
- Covid