Bridge
/brɪdʒ/
Definitions
3 meaningsA structure that spans an obstacle, allowing passage over it.
/brɪdʒ/
A structure carrying a road, path, railway, etc., across a river, ravine, or other obstacle.
The bridge was built of strong steel beams.
💡 Simply: A way to go over something like a river.
More Examples
The old wooden bridge was unsafe.
How It's Used
"The Golden Gate Bridge is a famous suspension bridge."
"We crossed the bridge to reach the other side of the river."
A connection or link between two separate entities.
/brɪdʒ/
Something that connects or links two things.
He built a bridge of trust with his team.
💡 Simply: Something that joins two things together.
More Examples
The peace talks aimed to bridge the gap between the two warring factions.
How It's Used
"The bridge between the two cultures was built on mutual respect."
To cross over or span (a gap, obstacle, etc.).
/brɪdʒ/
To cross (something) by means of a bridge.
The soldiers bridged the river under heavy fire.
💡 Simply: To go across something.
More Examples
They bridged the gap between theory and practice.
How It's Used
"We bridged the river in a small boat."
Idioms & expressions
burn your bridges
To destroy any possibility of returning to a situation or relationship.
"He burned his bridges by resigning abruptly without finding another job."
From Old English *brycg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brug and German Brücke.
The word 'bridge' has been used in English for centuries, with its meaning expanding from purely structural to encompass metaphorical connections.
Memory tip
Think of bridging a gap.
Word Origin
"raised way"