wedge
/wedʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /wedʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwej/ (ame, mw)
wedge — noun
- wedgesingular
- wedgesplural
1. a V-shaped piece of hard material such as metal or wood, driven in between two i
a V-shaped piece of hard material such as metal or wood, driven in between two items to split them, separate them, or hold them firmly in place
The carpenter drove a wooden wedge between the two boards to split them apart.
simple machine used for splitting or holding
Emma used a rubber wedge to keep the heavy door from swinging shut.
The workmen placed steel wedges under the large stone block to lift it slightly.
Leo tapped the wedge gently with a hammer until it held the table leg steady.
In survival training, a wedge can help break open a log for firewood.
用法筆記
The wedge is one of the six classical simple machines, along with the lever, pulley, screw, inclined plane, and wheel and axle.
常見錯誤
2. a piece of food or similar substance cut into a long, triangular shape, usually
a piece of food or similar substance cut into a long, triangular shape, usually wider at one end and narrower at the other
Hana cut the melon into neat wedges and arranged them on a serving plate.
wedge + of + [food noun] — a triangular portion
The waiter served a wedge of blue cheese with crackers and honey.
Arjun ordered a wedge of lemon to squeeze over his grilled fish.
For dessert, each guest received a thick wedge of chocolate cake.
Amara topped her salad with a wedge of grilled halloumi cheese.
文法句型
wedge + of + [food]
常見錯誤
3. a shoe whose heel forms a single solid sloping block that runs all the way from
a shoe whose heel forms a single solid sloping block that runs all the way from the back of the shoe to the front part under the arch of the foot
Noa bought a pair of brown leather wedges for the summer wedding.
wedge as a countable noun meaning wedge-heeled shoe
Sofia prefers wedges over high heels because they give her better balance.
The red wedge sandals matched Lucia's summer dress perfectly.
Yuki slipped off her wedges after walking around the museum all afternoon.
- platform shoe
a shoe where the entire sole is thick and raised, not just the heel like a wedge
- wedge heel
refers specifically to the heel shape, not the whole shoe
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'wedges' to mean a pair of wedge-heeled shoes.
常見錯誤
4. a type of golf club with a broad, angled face that is designed to hit the ball h
a type of golf club with a broad, angled face that is designed to hit the ball high into the air over a short distance
Diego selected a wedge for his approach shot from the sand trap.
golf club with a high-loft face for short-distance shots
The golf coach showed the beginners how to hold a wedge correctly.
Mei's wedge shot landed softly on the green, just two metres from the hole.
A good wedge helps lift the ball out of a bunker onto the green.
- pitching wedge
the most common type of wedge, used for approach shots of about 90–110 metres
- sand wedge
a wedge designed specifically for hitting the ball out of sand bunkers
用法筆記
There are several types of wedges used in golf — pitching wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge — each with a different face angle for different shot distances.
常見錯誤
5. something, such as a disagreement, action, or difference in opinion, that causes
something, such as a disagreement, action, or difference in opinion, that causes two people or groups to become separated or to stop having a friendly relationship
The argument about money drove a wedge between the two brothers for years.
fixed phrase: drive a wedge between — causes separation in a relationship
Amir worried his long work hours were creating a wedge between him and his family.
Political differences had driven a wedge through a community that was once very close.
The disagreement over the new policy drove a wedge between the manager and her team.
A wedge had grown between the childhood friends after the betrayal was discovered.
- rift
a serious break in a relationship; a rift is the result, whereas a wedge is the cause
- division
a more general term for lack of agreement; less vivid than 'wedge'
- estrangement
a formal term for the state of being no longer close or friendly
- reconciliation
the mending of a broken relationship
文法句型
drive a wedge between [people]
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the fixed expression 'drive a wedge between' or 'create a wedge between.' The wedge is the thing that causes the separation, not the separation itself.
常見錯誤
6. a small step or initial move that people believe will lead to something much mor
a small step or initial move that people believe will lead to something much more serious or unpleasant in the future
Teachers saw the new attendance rules as the thin end of the wedge for stricter controls.
fixed phrase: the thin end of the wedge — the start of something worse
Critics warned the small tax change was the thin end of the wedge for larger increases.
The manager saw the one-day strike as the thin end of the wedge for wider union action.
James said phones in one class were the thin end of the wedge, disrupting all lessons.
- precursor
a more formal word for something that comes before and leads to something else, not necessarily negative
- slippery slope
an argument that a small step will inevitably lead to a chain of bad events; similar warning tone
文法句型
the thin end of the wedge
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed British idiom 'the thin end of the wedge.' The phrase warns that a seemingly small or reasonable change is likely to lead to much bigger, unwanted changes.
常見錯誤
wedge — verb
- wedgepresent simple I / you / we / they
- wedges3rd person singular
- wedging-ing form
- wedgedpast simple
1. to push a wedge or a similar object under or next to something so that it stays
to push a wedge or a similar object under or next to something so that it stays firmly in place and cannot move
Vikram wedged a piece of cardboard under the short table leg to stop it from rocking.
wedge + object + under — to stabilise by filling a gap
The mechanic wedged a block of wood between the tyre and the kerb to stop the car rolling.
Hannah wedged the classroom door open with a textbook so the cat could get inside.
The painter wedged a small stick between the window frame and the sill to hold it open.
文法句型
wedge + object + under/between/against
用法筆記
In this sense the purpose is to stop movement — preventing a door from closing, a leg from wobbling, or a wheel from rolling. Distinguish from sense 2, where the purpose is to fit into a space that is too small.
常見錯誤
2. to push or force something or someone into a cramped spot that is barely large e
to push or force something or someone into a cramped spot that is barely large enough to contain it
Theo wedged himself into the crowded train carriage just before the doors closed.
reflexive: wedge + oneself + into — to squeeze into a tight space
Emma wedged her suitcase into the overhead compartment with some difficulty.
The librarian wedged the oversized book between two taller volumes on the shelf.
Kwame wedged the last cardboard box into the already full storage room.
Four teenagers wedged themselves into the back seat of the tiny blue car.
- extract
to remove something from a tight space with effort
文法句型
wedge + object/oneself + into/between/through
用法筆記
Frequently used with a reflexive pronoun (wedge oneself) to describe a person squeezing into a tight space. The past participle 'wedged' is also common as an adjective meaning tightly stuck.