bridge
bridge — verb
1. to reduce an emotional, social, or practical gap so that two sides can connect m
to reduce an emotional, social, or practical gap so that two sides can connect more easily.
A shared school garden helped bridge the distance between local and refugee children.
bridge the distance between groups
Priya's calm apology helped bridge the split between the two sisters.
bridge the split between people
Cheap video calls can bridge the miles between grandparents and young grandchildren.
The new loan plan may bridge the gap until the farm starts earning again.
bridge the gap until something changes
Better bus service bridged the divide between the village and the city hospital.
- bridge the gap
- bridge the divide
- bridge the distance
- bridge differences
Grammar Patterns
bridge + gap/divide/distance
bridge + gap/divide + between A and B
Usage Note
Object is usually an abstract noun such as 'gap', 'divide', 'distance', or 'split', often followed by 'between'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about putting an actual bridge across a physical space.
Common Mistakes
2. to put up a crossing structure over a river, road, or similar obstacle so people
to put up a crossing structure over a river, road, or similar obstacle so people or vehicles can get across.
Engineers bridged the narrow river before the rainy season began.
bridge + river
A wooden path bridged the stream behind the old stone church.
The town hopes to bridge the road with a safe walkway.
bridge + obstacle + with + structure
Workers bridged the ditch beside the field with steel beams.
By autumn, the army had bridged the canal and moved south.
- bridge a river
- bridge a canal
- bridge a road
- bridge the stream
Grammar Patterns
bridge + river/stream/canal/road
bridge + obstacle + with + structure/material
Usage Note
The object is the river, canal, road, or similar space being crossed, not the bridge itself. Common in engineering, planning, and military writing. Distinguish from sense 1, where the object is an abstract divide.
Common Mistakes
bridge — noun
1. a built crossing that carries people or traffic over water, a road, a railway, o
a built crossing that carries people or traffic over water, a road, a railway, or another barrier.
A new bridge now carries buses across the wide brown river.
bridge across + river
Workers closed the bridge after a truck hit the rail.
close the bridge
At sunset, tourists stopped on the old stone bridge for photos.
on the bridge
The village school lies just over the bridge near the market.
- stone bridge
- wooden bridge
- bridge over the river
- cross the bridge
- under the bridge
Grammar Patterns
bridge over + river/road/railway
cross/go over the bridge
Usage Note
Often used with 'over' or 'across' plus the thing being crossed. Common verbs are build, cross, go over, repair, and close.
Common Mistakes
2. a person, thing, or stage that helps one group, idea, or period connect smoothly
a person, thing, or stage that helps one group, idea, or period connect smoothly with another.
The summer course was a bridge between high school and office work.
a bridge between + two stages
Her calm voice became a bridge between the angry brothers.
For many migrants, the church was a bridge to local friends.
a bridge to + people/group
The paid internship was a bridge from college to full-time office work.
a bridge from ... to ...
- a bridge between cultures
- a bridge to employment
- a bridge from school to work
- serve as a bridge
- link
shorter and more general for a connection between two things
- connection
broader and less vivid than the image of a bridge
- stepping stone
suggests a temporary stage leading to something later
Grammar Patterns
a bridge between + two groups/ideas/stages
a bridge from + one stage + to + another
Usage Note
Usually names an abstract connection, often with 'between', 'to', or 'from ... to ...'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a physical structure you can walk or drive on.
Common Mistakes
3. the high control area on a ship where officers stand to steer it and direct its
the high control area on a ship where officers stand to steer it and direct its movement.
The captain watched the storm from the bridge all night.
from the bridge
Only senior officers may enter the bridge during rough weather.
enter the bridge
A red phone rang twice on the bridge before dawn.
on the bridge
Screens on the bridge showed the ferry's distance from shore.
- captain on the bridge
- from the bridge
- go to the bridge
- bridge equipment
- wheelhouse
often the enclosed steering room; overlaps but can be narrower
- control deck
descriptive phrase rather than the standard nautical term
Grammar Patterns
on the bridge
from the bridge
Usage Note
Usually appears as 'the bridge' because a ship normally has one main control area. Common in sea travel, military, and accident reporting.
4. the firm line above your nose and below your forehead, or the center part of gla
the firm line above your nose and below your forehead, or the center part of glasses that rests there.
The little boy wore a bandage across the bridge of his nose.
the bridge of the nose
Sweat slid down the bridge of Priya's nose in the heat.
The bridge of my glasses cracked when I sat on them.
the bridge of the glasses
A soft pad under the bridge keeps these glasses from slipping.
- bridge of the nose
- bridge of the glasses
- across the bridge of the nose
Grammar Patterns
the bridge of the nose
the bridge of the glasses
Usage Note
Most often appears in the fixed pattern 'the bridge of the nose'. For glasses, it names the center part joining the two lenses.
Common Mistakes
5. a card game in which four players form two partnerships and try to win tricks.
a card game in which four players form two partnerships and try to win tricks.
After dinner, four neighbors sat down to play bridge.
play bridge
Ravi learned bridge from his aunt during a rainy summer.
The hotel club meets every Tuesday for a game of bridge.
a game of bridge
At the library club, Bao won his first bridge hand after dinner.
- play bridge
- game of bridge
- bridge club
- bridge table
- contract bridge
the most common modern form of the game
- trick-taking game
a wider category; bridge is one member of it
Grammar Patterns
play bridge
a game of bridge
Usage Note
Usually uncountable when naming the activity: 'play bridge'. Use 'a game of bridge' for one session.
Common Mistakes
6. a fixed dental piece holding artificial teeth between the natural teeth beside a
a fixed dental piece holding artificial teeth between the natural teeth beside a gap.
The dentist suggested a bridge after one back tooth was removed.
suggest/fit a bridge
Her new bridge lets her smile without hiding the gap.
Food kept catching under the bridge until the dentist adjusted it.
under the bridge
Bao cleaned the bridge carefully with a small brush each night.
clean the bridge
- dental bridge
- fit a bridge
- clean a bridge
- temporary bridge
- fixed partial denture
technical dental term for this type of replacement
- prosthesis
very broad medical term; less everyday than 'bridge'
Grammar Patterns
fit a bridge
clean a bridge
Usage Note
Mainly used in dental contexts. Unlike removable dentures, a bridge is fixed in place by the teeth on either side.
Common Mistakes
7. the small support near the base of a violin, guitar, or similar instrument that
the small support near the base of a violin, guitar, or similar instrument that keeps the strings lifted and in place
The repair shop replaced the guitar bridge after the old one cracked.
collocation: guitar bridge / replace the bridge
On Ravi's violin, one string slipped out of the bridge during practice.
bridge + string on a violin
The music teacher checked whether the bridge was holding the strings evenly.
During tuning, Diego heard a buzz because the guitar bridge had lifted.
Before the concert, Hana cleaned the dust around the bridge carefully.
- guitar bridge
- violin bridge
- replace the bridge
- adjust the bridge
- bridge crack
- string support
a descriptive phrase, not the fixed technical name
- saddle
a related part on some instruments, but not the exact same part in every case
Usage Note
Usually used with string instruments such as guitars and violins. Distinguish from sense 1 (LARGE STRUCTURE), the everyday crossing over water or roads.
Common Mistakes
8. an exercise position where your head, shoulders, arms, and feet stay on the floo
an exercise position where your head, shoulders, arms, and feet stay on the floor while your hips lift up
During class, Priya held the bridge for ten slow breaths.
exercise pattern: hold the bridge
The coach asked us to hold the bridge position for five seconds.
bridge position in exercise instruction
After back surgery, Omar avoided the bridge exercise until his doctor agreed.
On the gym mat, Yara moved into bridge while her coach counted.
At home, Noa practised the bridge on a mat beside the sofa.
- do the bridge
- hold the bridge
- bridge position
- bridge exercise
- glute bridge
- backbend
a broader word for poses where the back curves backward
- bridge pose
the common full name in yoga and exercise classes
Usage Note
Common with verbs like 'do', 'hold', and 'practise'. In fitness and yoga talk, speakers also say 'bridge position' or name a specific form such as 'glute bridge'.
Common Mistakes
9. a section in a song that adds a different tune or mood between similar parts, of
a section in a song that adds a different tune or mood between similar parts, often before the last chorus
The singer lowers her voice during the bridge before the final chorus.
song structure: bridge before the final chorus
Our band rewrote the bridge because it sounded too much like the chorus.
rewrite the bridge in songwriting
After the second chorus, the bridge brings in a darker mood.
Leila wrote a short bridge on piano to link the two verses.
In the studio, the producer added a bridge after the second chorus.
- write a bridge
- bridge section
- before the final chorus
- bridge and chorus
- rewrite the bridge
- middle eight
a British music term for a short contrasting section, especially in pop songs
- interlude
can be a contrasting passage, but it may be instrumental only
- break
an informal word for a brief contrasting section
Usage Note
Used when talking about song structure, often with 'verse' and 'chorus'. Distinguish from sense 1 (LARGE STRUCTURE): this sense names part of a piece of music.
Common Mistakes
To create or improve friendly relationships between different groups or people.
Maya's project helped build bridges between the school and local businesses.
Can we build bridges between our two teams through regular meetings?
burn your bridges
idiomTo do something that makes it impossible to go back to a previous situation or relationship.
Diego burned his bridges when he insulted the manager publicly.
Think before you quit—you might burn your bridges with the company.
To deal with a problem only when it actually happens, not before.
Sara said, "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it."
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, so stop worrying now.
Something that happened in the past is no longer important or worth worrying about.
Our old argument is all water under the bridge now.
Don't dwell on that mistake—it's water under the bridge.
Word family
- bridgingnounC1
- bridgingadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These words all describe ways of getting from one side to another, but they are not used in exactly the same situations. 'Bridge' is the broad everyday word for a structure over water, a road, or another barrier. 'Overpass' usually means a bridge that carries traffic or people over a road. 'Viaduct' is more formal and often suggests a long road or rail bridge with several supports. 'Footbridge' is only for people walking. 'Crossing' is the widest term and can mean a bridge, a marked place in the road, or another route across. Compare: 'We crossed the bridge before dark,' 'Take the overpass above the highway,' and 'A narrow footbridge leads to the temple.'
Etymology
This word comes from Old English 'brycg', later written in Middle English as 'brigge'. It belongs to an old Germanic word family for a structure that carries you across water or another obstacle. That basic image of joining one side to another stayed central, and English later extended it to figurative uses such as a bridge between cultures or stages in life. Several later technical senses, such as parts of ships, glasses, instruments, and songs, also grow from the same linking or supporting idea.