bridge

¹bridge

noun \ˈbrij\

Definition of BRIDGE

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 \-ləs\ adjective

Illustration of BRIDGE

Origin of BRIDGE

Middle English brigge, from Old English brycg; akin to Old High German brucka bridge, Old Church Slavic brŭvŭno beam

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Dentistry Terms

crown, tush

Rhymes with BRIDGE

fidge, fridge, midge, ridge

²bridge

transitive verb

bridged bridg·ing

Definition of BRIDGE

1

: to make a bridge over or across <bridge the gap>; also : to join by a bridge

2

: to provide with a bridge

— bridge·able \ˈbri-jə-bəl\ adjective

First Known Use of BRIDGE

before 12th century

Other Civil Engineering Terms

asphalt, ballast, barrage, cantilever, infrastructure, sluice

³bridge

noun

Definition of BRIDGE

: any of various card games for usually 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; especially : contract bridge

Origin of BRIDGE

alteration of earlier biritch, of unknown origin

First Known Use: circa 1897

Other Game Terms

bezique, carom, convention, crap, euchre, gambit, monte, parlay, tierce

bridge

noun \ˈbrij\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BRIDGE

1

a : the upper bony part of the nose b : the curved part of a pair of glasses that rests upon this part of the nose

2

a : pons b : a strand of protoplasm extending between two cells c : a partial denture held in place by anchorage to adjacent teeth d : a connection (as an atom or group of atoms) that joins two different parts of a molecule (as opposite sides of a ring) e : an area of physical continuity between two chromatids persisting during the later phases of mitosis and constituting a possible source of somatic genetic change