bridge

A2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /bɹɪd͡ʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #1506

Meanings

1

noun
A structure built over a river, road, or gap so that people can cross it.

We walked across the bridge over the river.
2

noun
Something that connects two things or brings them closer.

The exchange program acts as a bridge between the two cultures.
3

verb
To make a connection between two things or reduce the difference between them.

The new course helps to bridge the gap between school and university.
4

noun
The hard ridge at the top of the nose.

My glasses left red marks on the bridge of my nose.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 verb · to make a connection... bridge over

Word family

Forms bridgedbridgesbridging

Derived forms aerobridgeairbridgeavonbridgeballsbridgebanbridgebeitbridgebellbridgeboroughbridgebridgablebridge-and-tunnelbridge-and-tunnelerbridge-builder

Appears in

Phrases (5)

See all

suspension bridge
a bridge whose roadway hangs from cables secured at its ends

Noun + noun
truss bridge
a bridge supported by a framework of connected structural members

Noun + noun
cantilever bridge
a bridge supported by projecting structures extending from its piers

Noun + noun
bridge over
span a gap or connect across an obstacle

Verb + preposition/particle
monkey bridge
a high, narrow platform above a ship's deck or machinery space

Noun + noun

Idioms (5)

See all

bridge the gap
to reduce or remove the difference between two things or groups
burn bridges
To destroy a relationship in a way that makes future cooperation impossible.
cross that bridge when you come to it
To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before.
water under the bridge
past events that no longer matter
bridge round
short-term financing that keeps a company afloat until a larger funding round closes

Etymology

From Middle English brigge, from Old English brycġ (“bridge”), from Proto-Germanic *brugjō, *brugjǭ (“bridge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw-, *bʰrēw- (“wooden flooring, decking, bridge”). Cognates Cognate with Scots brig, brigg (“bridge”), Yola burge (“bridge”), North Frisian brag, Bröch (“bridge”), Saterland Frisian Brääch, Brääg (“bridge”), West Frisian brêge (“bridge”), Dutch brug (“bridge”), German Brücke (“bridge”), Limburgish brögk (“bridge”), Luxembourgish Bréck (“bridge”), Vilamovian bryk (“bridge”), Yiddish בריק (brik, “bridge”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål brygge (“jetty, pier, whar…

brigge Middle English brycġ Old English *brugjō Proto-Germanic *bʰerw- Proto-Indo-European briggen Middle English brycġian Old English steg goh

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# bridge

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /bɹɪd͡ʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 1506

## Meanings
1. A structure built over a river, road, or gap so that people can cross it.
2. Something that connects two things or brings them closer.
3. To make a connection between two things or reduce the difference between them.
4. The hard ridge at the top of the nose.

## Examples
- We walked across the bridge over the river.
- The exchange program acts as a bridge between the two cultures.
- The new course helps to bridge the gap between school and university.
- My glasses left red marks on the bridge of my nose.

## Derived Forms
- aerobridge
- airbridge
- avonbridge
- ballsbridge
- banbridge
- beitbridge
- bellbridge
- boroughbridge
- bridgable
- bridge-and-tunnel
- bridge-and-tunneler
- bridge-builder

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: brigge
- Root: brycġ
- Root: *brugjō
- Root: *bʰerw-
- Root: briggen
- Root: brycġian
- Root: steg

## Etymology
From Middle English brigge, from Old English brycġ (“bridge”), from Proto-Germanic *brugjō, *brugjǭ (“bridge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw-, *bʰrēw- (“wooden flooring, decking, bridge”). Cognates Cognate with Scots brig, brigg (“bridge”), Yola burge (“bridge”), North Frisian brag, Bröch (“bridge”), Saterland Frisian Brääch, Brääg (“bridge”), West Frisian brêge (“bridge”), Dutch brug (“bridge”), German Brücke (“bridge”), Limburgish brögk (“bridge”), Luxembourgish Bréck (“bridge”), Vilamovian bryk (“bridge”), Yiddish בריק (brik, “bridge”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål brygge (“jetty, pier, whar…

## AI Etymology
Bridge comes from Middle English brigge, from Old English brycġ (“bridge”), from Proto-Germanic *brugjō, *brugjǭ (“bridge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw-, *bʰrēw- (“wooden flooring, decking, bridge”).

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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