Bridges

[ brij-iz ]

/ ˈbrɪdʒ ɪz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR Bridges ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Calvin Black·man

[blak-muh n] /ˈblæk mən/,1889–1938, U.S. geneticist.

Harry (Alfred Bryant Ren·ton) [ren-tn] /ˈrɛn tn/,1900–1990, U.S. labor leader, born in Australia.

Robert (Seymour),1884–1930, English poet and essayist: poet laureate 1913–30.

Definition for bridges (2 of 3)

bridge ¹

[ brij ]

/ brɪdʒ /

noun

a structure spanning and providing passage over a river, chasm, road, or the like.

a connecting, transitional, or intermediate route or phase between two adjacent elements, activities, conditions, or the like: Working at the hospital was a bridge between medical school and private practice.

Nautical.

a raised transverse platform from which a power vessel is navigated: often includes a pilot house and a chart house.
any of various other raised platforms from which the navigation or docking of a vessel is supervised.
a bridge house or bridge superstructure.
a raised walkway running fore-and-aft.

Anatomy. the ridge or upper line of the nose.

Dentistry. an artificial replacement, fixed or removable, of a missing tooth or teeth, supported by natural teeth or roots adjacent to the space.

Music.

a thin, fixed wedge or support raising the strings of a musical instrument above the sounding board.
a transitional, modulatory passage connecting sections of a composition or movement.
(in jazz and popular music) the contrasting third group of eight bars in a thirty-two-bar chorus; channel; release.

Also bridge passage. a passage in a literary work or a scene in a play serving as a movement between two other passages or scenes of greater importance.

Ophthalmology. the part of a pair of eyeglasses that joins the two lenses and rests on the bridge or sides of the nose.

Also called bridge circuit. Electricity. a two-branch network, including a measuring device, as a galvanometer, in which the unknown resistance, capacitance, inductance, or impedance of one component can be measured by balancing the voltage in each branch and computing the unknown value from the known values of the other components. Compare Wheatstone bridge.

Railroads. a gantry over a track or tracks for supporting waterspouts, signals, etc.

Building Trades. a scaffold built over a sidewalk alongside a construction or demolition site to protect pedestrians and motor traffic from falling materials.

Metallurgy.

a ridge or wall-like projection of fire brick or the like, at each end of the hearth in a metallurgical furnace.
any layer of partially fused or densely compacted material preventing the proper gravitational movement of molten material, as in a blast furnace or cupola, or the proper compacting of metal powder in a mold.

(in a twist drill) the conoid area between the flutes at the drilling end.

Billiards, Pool.

the arch formed by the hand and fingers to support and guide the striking end of a cue.
a notched piece of wood with a long handle, used to support the striking end of the cue when the hand cannot do so comfortably; rest.

transitional music, commentary, dialogue, or the like, between two parts of a radio or television program.

Theater.

a gallery or platform that can be raised or lowered over a stage and is used by technicians, stagehands, etc., for painting scenery (paint bridge), arranging and supporting lights (light bridge), or the like.
British. a part of the floor of a stage that can be raised or lowered.

Horology. a partial plate, supported at both ends, holding bearings on the side opposite the dial. Compare cock¹(def 10).

Chemistry. a valence bond illustrating the connection of two parts of a molecule.

a support or prop, usually timber, for the roof of a mine, cave, etc.

any arch or rooflike figure formed by acrobats, dancers, etc., as by joining and raising hands.

verb (used with object), bridged, bridg·ing.

to make a bridge or passage over; span: The road bridged the river.

to join by or as if by a bridge: a fallen tree bridging the two porches.

to make (a way) by a bridge.

verb (used without object), bridged, bridg·ing.

Foundry. (of molten metal) to form layers or areas heterogeneous either in material or in degree of hardness.

adjective

(especially of clothing) less expensive than a manufacturer's most expensive products: showing his bridge line for the fall season.

Origin of bridge

before 1000; Middle English brigge, Old English brycg; cognate with Dutch brug, German Brücke; akin to Old Norse bryggja pier

SYNONYMS FOR bridge

21 traverse, cross, vault.

22 link, connect.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bridge ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM bridge

bridge·a·ble, adjective bridge·less, adjective bridge·like, adjective un·bridge·a·ble, adjective

un·bridged, adjective

Definition for bridges (3 of 3)

bridge ²

[ brij ]

/ brɪdʒ /

noun Cards.

a game derived from whist in which one partnership plays to fulfill a certain declaration against an opposing partnership acting as defenders. Compare auction bridge, contract(def 5).

Origin of bridge

1885–90; earlier also spelling britch, biritch; of obscure origin; perhaps < Turkish bir one + üç three (one hand being exposed while the other three are concealed), but such a name for the game is not attested in Turkey or the Near East, from where it is alleged to have been introduced into Europe

Example sentences from the Web for bridges

Next, the GOP should hammer away at how our roads, bridges, and tunnels are crumbling, and push for an infrastructure initiative.

Bush, Christie, Romney: Who’ll Be the GOP Class Warrior? |Lloyd Green |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Last year, over 214,000 workers were posted in Africa to build highways, bridges, dams, and power plants.

'Made in China' Now Being Made in Africa |Brendon Hong |August 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Ten bridges were closed; the span linking Oakland to the City didn't reopen for more than a month.

San Fran Kisses Its 70,000-Person Toilet Goodbye |Jon Rochmis |August 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I think Bridges himself, from the beginning, it was his kids who had brought the book to him.

A Trailblazer in YA Dystopian Fiction: An Interview With 'The Giver' Author Lois Lowry |Marianne Hayes |August 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

On the second day, Bridges asked the Boys if the relationship between the Dude and Walter progressed during the movie.

The Stacks: The Day ‘The Big Lebowski’ Came to Life |Alex Belth |July 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Tagus is crossed by two bridges, one at each extremity of the semi-circle described by it round the half of the town.

The Pictureque Antiquities of Spain; |Nathaniel Armstrong Wells
Then it forms a strong and resisting chorion, which imparts to the egg an outline similar to that of a bridges span.

Parasites |T. Spencer Cobbold
The cableway is much used in the erection of masonry piers for bridges across rivers or valleys.

The Romance of Modern Mechanism |Archibald Williams
Bridges of metal should be left to support firmly all portions of the design.

Industrial Arts Design |William H. Varnum
Then we will go and take our place near one of the bridges and slip across as soon as we see an opportunity.

A Girl of the Commune |George Alfred Henty

British Dictionary definitions for bridges (1 of 4)

Bridges

/ (ˈbrɪdʒɪz) /

noun

Robert (Seymour). 1844–1930, English poet: poet laureate (1913–30)

British Dictionary definitions for bridges (2 of 4)

Bridge

/ (brɪdʒ) /

noun

Frank . 1879–1941, English composer, esp of chamber music. He taught Benjamin Britten

British Dictionary definitions for bridges (3 of 4)

bridge ¹

/ (brɪdʒ) /

noun

a structure that spans and provides a passage over a road, railway, river, or some other obstacle

something that resembles this in shape or function his letters provided a bridge across the centuries

the hard ridge at the upper part of the nose, formed by the underlying nasal bones
any anatomical ridge or connecting structureCompare pons

the part of a pair of glasses that rests on the nose

Also called: bridgework a dental plate containing one or more artificial teeth that is secured to the surrounding natural teeth

a platform athwartships and above the rail, from which a ship is piloted and navigated

a piece of wood, usually fixed, supporting the strings of a violin, guitar, etc, and transmitting their vibrations to the sounding board

Also called: bridge passage a passage in a musical, literary, or dramatic work linking two or more important sections

Also called: bridge circuit electronics any of several networks, such as a Wheatstone bridge, consisting of two branches across which a measuring device is connected. The resistance, capacitance, etc, of one component can be determined from the known values of the others when the voltage in each branch is balanced

computing a device that connects networks and sends packets between them

billiards snooker

a support for a cue made by placing the fingers on the table and raising the thumb
a cue rest with a notched end for shots beyond normal reach

theatre

a platform of adjustable height above or beside the stage for the use of stagehands, light operators, etc
mainly British a part of the stage floor that can be raised or lowered

a partition in a furnace or boiler to keep the fuel in place

build bridges to promote reconciliation or cooperation between hostile groups or people

burn one's bridges See burn 1 (def. 19)

cross a bridge when one comes to it to deal with a problem only when it arises; not to anticipate difficulties

verb (tr)

to build or provide a bridge over something; span to bridge a river

to connect or reduce the distance between let us bridge our differences

Derived forms of bridge

bridgeable, adjective bridgeless, adjective

Word Origin for bridge

Old English brycg; related to Old Norse bryggja gangway, Old Frisian bregge, Old High German brucka, Danish, Swedish bro

British Dictionary definitions for bridges (4 of 4)

bridge ²

/ (brɪdʒ) /

noun

a card game for four players, based on whist, in which one hand (the dummy) is exposed and the trump suit decided by bidding between the players See also contract bridge, duplicate bridge, rubber bridge, auction bridge

Word Origin for bridge

C19: of uncertain origin, but compare Turkish bir-üç (unattested phrase) one-three (said perhaps to refer to the one exposed hand and the three players' hands)

Medical definitions for bridges (1 of 2)

Bridges

[ brĭj′ĭz ]

Calvin Blackman 1889-1938

American geneticist noted for his work on the chromosome theory of heredity and the mapping of chromosomes.

Medical definitions for bridges (2 of 2)

bridge

[ brĭj ]

n.

An anatomical structure resembling a bridge or span.

The upper part of the ridge of the nose formed by the nasal bones.

A fixed or removable replacement for one or several but not all of the natural teeth, usually anchored at each end to a natural tooth.

One of the threads of protoplasm that appears to pass from one cell to another.

Scientific definitions for bridges

bridge

[ brĭj ]

A structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier, such as a river or roadway.

Idioms and Phrases with bridges

bridge

see burn one's bridges; cross that bridge when one comes to it; water over the dam (under the bridge).

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Bridges

noun

Definition for bridges (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), bridged, bridg·ing.