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.
Better bus service bridged the divide between the village and the city hospital.
文法句型
bridge + gap/divide/distance
bridge + gap/divide + between A and B
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
Workers bridged the ditch beside the field with steel beams.
By autumn, the army had bridged the canal and moved south.
文法句型
bridge + river/stream/canal/road
bridge + obstacle + with + structure/material
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
The village school lies just over the bridge near the market.
文法句型
bridge over + river/road/railway
cross/go over the bridge
用法筆記
Often used with 'over' or 'across' plus the thing being crossed. Common verbs are build, cross, go over, repair, and close.
常見錯誤
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.
The paid internship was a bridge from college to full-time office work.
- 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
文法句型
a bridge between + two groups/ideas/stages
a bridge from + one stage + to + another
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
Screens on the bridge showed the ferry's distance from shore.
- wheelhouse
often the enclosed steering room; overlaps but can be narrower
- control deck
descriptive phrase rather than the standard nautical term
文法句型
on the bridge
from the bridge
用法筆記
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.
A soft pad under the bridge keeps these glasses from slipping.
文法句型
the bridge of the nose
the bridge of the glasses
用法筆記
Most often appears in the fixed pattern 'the bridge of the nose'. For glasses, it names the center part joining the two lenses.
常見錯誤
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.
At the library club, Bao won his first bridge hand after dinner.
- contract bridge
the most common modern form of the game
- trick-taking game
a wider category; bridge is one member of it
文法句型
play bridge
a game of bridge
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when naming the activity: 'play bridge'. Use 'a game of bridge' for one session.
常見錯誤
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.
Bao cleaned the bridge carefully with a small brush each night.
- fixed partial denture
technical dental term for this type of replacement
- prosthesis
very broad medical term; less everyday than 'bridge'
文法句型
fit a bridge
clean a bridge
用法筆記
Mainly used in dental contexts. Unlike removable dentures, a bridge is fixed in place by the teeth on either side.
常見錯誤
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.
- 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
用法筆記
Usually used with string instruments such as guitars and violins. Distinguish from sense 1 (LARGE STRUCTURE), the everyday crossing over water or roads.
常見錯誤
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.
- backbend
a broader word for poses where the back curves backward
- bridge pose
the common full name in yoga and exercise classes
用法筆記
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'.
常見錯誤
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.
- 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
用法筆記
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.