Illustration of bridge
- 1 beam
- 2 truss
- 3 arch
- 4 suspension
- 5 cable-stayed
1
a
: a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle (such as a river)
a bridge connecting the island to the mainland
b
: a time, place, or means of connection or transition
building a bridge between the two cultures
the bridge from war to peace
2
: something resembling a bridge in form or function: such as
a
: the upper bony part of the nose
broke the bridge of his nose
also
: the part of a pair of glasses that rests upon it
b
music
: a piece raising the strings of a musical instrument see violin illustration
c
nautical
: the forward part of a ship's superstructure (see superstructure sense 2b) from which the ship is navigated
d
railroads
: gantry sense 2b
e
3
a
music
: a passage linking two sections of a composition
b
dentistry
: a partial denture anchored to adjacent teeth
c
chemistry
: a connection (such as an atom or group of atoms) that joins two different parts of a molecule (such as opposite sides of a ring)
4
physics
: an electrical instrument or network for measuring or comparing resistances (see resistance entry 1 sense 4a), inductances, capacitances, or impedances by comparing the ratio of two opposing voltages to a known ratio
bridged; bridging
1
: to make a bridge (see bridge entry 1) over or across
bridging a river
bridge the divisions between the two groups
bridge the generation gap
also
: to join by a bridge
2
: to provide with a bridge
small bridged streams
card games
: any of various card games for usually four players in two partnerships that bid for the right to declare a trump suit, seek to win tricks (see trick entry 1 sense 4) equal to the final bid, and play with the hand of declarer's partner exposed and played by declarer
especially
: contract bridge
Examples of bridge in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
The Town of Cramerton will debut a new permanent architectural lighting installation on its iconic 200-foot pedestrian bridge spanning from its riverfront downtown to the 40-acre Goat Island Park as part of its celebration of America’s 250th birthday on June 27 (Town Event Calendar).
—Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
Kira Willey, CNBC, 17 June 2026
Reynaldo López bridged the gap for the Braves between the sixth and eighth with two scoreless innings giving way to Anthony Molina.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bridge
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Noun
The roads are gravel, remote, full of potholes, and arriving at the hotel meant making a river crossing at one point in time (a bridge has since been introduced).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
The Town of Cramerton will debut a new permanent architectural lighting installation on its iconic 200-foot pedestrian bridge spanning from its riverfront downtown to the 40-acre Goat Island Park as part of its celebration of America’s 250th birthday on June 27 (Town Event Calendar).
—Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
Verb
The physical connection is calming and helps bridge the gap between their world and yours.
—Kira Willey, CNBC, 17 June 2026
Reynaldo López bridged the gap for the Braves between the sixth and eighth with two scoreless innings giving way to Anthony Molina.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bridge
Cite this Entry
“Bridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridge. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bridge
1 of 3 noun1
: a structure built over something (as a river or a railroad) so people can cross
2
: a platform above and across the deck of a ship for the captain or officer in charge
3
a
: something resembling a bridge (as the upper part of the nose)
b
: music that connects the sections of a song or composition
4
: a curved piece that raises the strings of a musical instrument
5
: an artificial replacement for one or more teeth that is fastened to the remaining nearby teeth
bridge
2 of 3 verb
bridged; bridging
: to make a bridge over or across
bridge a gap
bridge
3 of 3 noun
: a card game for four players in two teams
Etymology
Noun
Old English brycg "bridge"
Noun
origin unknown
Medical Definition
bridge
noun1
a
: the upper bony part of the nose
b
: the curved part of a pair of glasses that rests upon this part of the nose
2
a
: pons
b
: a strand of protoplasm extending between two cells
c
: a partial denture held in place by anchorage to adjacent teeth
d
: a connection (as an atom or group of atoms) that joins two different parts of a molecule (as opposite sides of a ring)
e
: an area of physical continuity between two chromatids persisting during the later phases of mitosis and constituting a possible source of somatic genetic change
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