a structure built to span a physical obstacle, such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, something that connects two things or places, a card game derived from whist, played by two partnerships of two players who bid for the right to name the trump suit

bridge the gap, burning bridges behind oneself, build bridges

burn one's bridges, cross that bridge when one comes to it, water under the bridge

Formal and Informal Expressions of bridge

In different contexts, you can replace 'bridge' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'overpass, viaduct' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'link, connection' is a commonplace synonym.

bridge: Explore its Definition & Usage

bridge Definition

1a structure built to span a physical obstacle, such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle
2something that connects two things or places
3a card game derived from whist, played by two partnerships of two players who bid for the right to name the trump suit

Using bridge: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bridge" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic landmark in San Francisco.
Example
The bridge between the two cultures was difficult to establish.
Example
Let's play a game of bridge after dinner.

bridge Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for bridge

Antonyms for bridge

Idioms Using bridge

bridge the gap
to reduce or eliminate the differences between two things or groups
Example
The new program aims to bridge the gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
burning bridges behind oneself
to do something that makes it impossible to return to a previous situation, often with negative consequences
Example
By quitting without notice, he was burning bridges behind himself and making it difficult to find another job.
build bridges
to establish connections or relationships between people or groups
Example
The organization aims to build bridges between different communities through cultural exchange programs.

Phrases with bridge

burn one's bridges
to do something that makes it impossible to return to a previous situation
Example
He burned his bridges with his former employer when he quit without notice.
cross that bridge when one comes to it
to deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before
Example
I'm not sure how we'll pay for college, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
water under the bridge
past events that are no longer important or relevant
Example
We had our disagreements in the past, but that's all water under the bridge now.

Origins of bridge

from Old English 'brycg', meaning 'a bridge'

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Summary: bridge in Brief

A 'bridge' [brij] is a structure that spans a physical obstacle, connecting two places. It can also refer to a card game played by two partnerships. Phrases like 'burn one's bridges' and 'water under the bridge' describe past events that are no longer relevant, while 'cross that bridge when one comes to it' means to deal with a problem when necessary. Idioms like 'bridge the gap' and 'build bridges' describe efforts to connect people or groups.