wedge

noun

\ ˈwej

Definition of wedge

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a piece of a substance (such as wood or iron) that tapers to a thin edge and is used for splitting wood and rocks, raising heavy bodies, or for tightening by being driven into something

2a : something (such as a policy) causing a breach or separation

b : something used to initiate an action or development

3 : something wedge-shaped: such as

a : an array of troops or tanks in the form of a wedge

b : the wedge-shaped stroke in cuneiform characters

c : a shoe having a heel extending from the back of the shoe to the front of the shank and a tread formed by an extension of the sole

d : an iron golf club with a broad low-angled face for maximum loft

4 : a golf shot made with a wedge

— called also wedge shot

wedge

verb

wedged; wedging

Definition of wedge (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to fasten or tighten by driving in a wedge

2a : to force or press (something) into a narrow space : cram

b : to force (one's way) into or through

3 : to separate or force apart with or as if with a wedge

intransitive verb

: to become wedged

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about wedge

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Examples of wedge in a Sentence

Noun

He used a wedge to split the firewood. A wedge held the door open. The battalion formed a wedge and marched toward the enemy.

Verb

She wedged her foot into the crack. The dog got wedged between the couch and the end table. I wedged myself into the car's back seat. She wedged the door open.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The threads are a form of inclined plane or wedge, the simplest type of tool. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "How to Use a Torque Wrench to Keep Your Car from Flying Apart," 26 Feb. 2019 Peel, core, and cut each apple and pear into ¾-in.-thick wedges. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Apple and Pear Tart," 15 Feb. 2019 Lightly muddle lime wedges, smack mint, add lime juice, sugarcane juice, and top with Fever Tree club soda. — Michaela Bechler, Vogue, "How to Make Dry January’s Most-Searched Mocktail," 7 Jan. 2019 Serve cold with lime wedges, if desired, and colorful paper straws. — Anna Thomas Bates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Instead of lemonade, try a hibiscus-lime Arnold Palmer," 20 June 2018 Everyone who attended greatly enjoyed dinner and a good number of guests asked for second servings of the salmon cakes and sweet potato wedges. — Maria Brown, Philly.com, "Graduation dinner the ultimate test of our skills," 3 May 2018 Monday, March 12: Barbecue pork rib parry, ranch beans, wedge potatoes, whole wheat bread, Mandarin oranges. — Ramona Sentinel, "Ramona Senior Center," 8 Mar. 2018 The Russian leader has been attentive to Mr. Erdogan’s security concerns on hope, analysts say, to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Turkey, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s second-largest military. — David Gauthier-villars, WSJ, "Russia, Turkey Presidents Discuss Deeper Partnership in Syria," 23 Jan. 2019 So far, however, Nord Stream 2 has only had one real impact: driving a wedge between Germany and other Western nations. — Rick Noack, Washington Post, "The Russian pipeline to Germany that Trump is so mad about, explained," 11 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Chinese architecture firm Open designed the unorthodox museum on the cusp of the sea, where its white facade is wedged into the sand like a series of giant seashells. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Otherworldly new museum is built into a sand dune," 17 Dec. 2018 Then, a rewind and a replay: This time, the wayward child’s mother sweeps her out of Helen’s way, and Helen manages to wedge her elbow between the swiftly closing doors. — Ashley Fetters, The Cut, "I Think About This a Lot: The Sliding Doors in Sliding Doors," 9 Apr. 2018 Please, no more awkwardly wedged-in, vaguely apropos musical performances. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "The Most Awkward Moments from the 2019 Oscars," 25 Feb. 2019 Boutiques hawking 1,200-euro embroidered deer-hide lederhosen suits and wild-gentian schnapps line the town of Rottach-Egern’s main drag, wedged tightly with Audis and Porsches. — Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Perfect Long Weekend in Bavaria," 17 Sep. 2018 Reed is a Masters champion, but still has questions to answer about his past Reed has put together a mixed bag with a Ping driver, Titleist and Callaway irons, Artisan Golf wedges and an Odyssey putter. — Bill Speros, USA TODAY, "Masters champ Patrick Reed doesn't have an equipment sponsor and here's why," 10 Apr. 2018 Either make sure the doors are closed or wedge the door switch shut. — Zachary Palmer, Popular Mechanics, "How To Diagnose a Dead Battery," 26 Jan. 2017 Shuman is worried about nuisance behavior from drunken concert-goers stumbling through her neighborhood, which is wedged between I-95 and the PECO site. — Inga Saffron, Philly.com, "Will a new riverfront concert venue close the gap between Fishtown and the Delaware - or widen it?," 28 June 2018 The Pontiac got wedged underneath the left rear wheel of the big rig, and the accident killed the front-seat passenger, a 22-year-old woman, who was taken directly to the coroner, CHP said. — Julia Sclafani, sacbee, "Vacaville woman dead following Highway 99 collision with big rig," 26 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wedge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

17 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for wedge

The first known use of wedge was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for wedge

wedge

noun

English Language Learners Definition of wedge

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a piece of wood, metal, etc., with one pointed end and one thicker end that is used to split something, to fit into a space, to separate two things stuck together, etc.

: something that is shaped like a triangle or wedge

: a golf club that is used for hitting short, high shots

wedge

verb

English Language Learners Definition of wedge (Entry 2 of 2)

: to force (someone or something) into a very small or narrow space

: to use a wedge or similar object to keep (something, such as a door or window) in an open or closed position

See the full definition for wedge in the English Language Learners Dictionary

wedge

noun

\ ˈwej