From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_038_gbridgebridge1 /brɪdʒ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 
over a river/road etcOVER A RIVER/ROAD ETCTB [countable] a structure built over a river, road etc that allows people or vehicles to cross from one side to the other → suspension bridge, swing bridge2 connectionCONNECTIONCONNECTED WITH [countable] something that provides a connection between two things SYN linkbridge between/to The training programme is seen as a bridge between school and work. a scheme to build bridges (=make a better relationship) between the police and the community3 shipSHIPTTW [countable usually singular] the raised part of a ship from which the officers control it4 card gameCARD GAMEDGC [uncountable] a card game for four players, who play in pairs5 → the bridge of your nose6 pair of glassesPAIR OF GLASSESMH [countable usually singular] the part of a pair of glasses that rests on your nose7 musical instrumentMUSICAL INSTRUMENTAPM [countable usually singular] a small piece of wood under the strings of a violin or guitar, used to keep them in position8 for teethFOR TEETHMH [countable] a small piece of metal that keeps false teeth in place by attaching them to your real teeth → burn your bridges at burn1(18), → cross that bridge when you come to it at cross1(10), → be (all) water under the bridge at water1(6)COLLOCATIONSverbsbuild a bridge (also erect a bridge formal)Finally a new bridge was erected over the road.cross a bridgeAn estimated 150,000 cars cross the bridge each day.a bridge crosses somethingA pretty stone bridge crosses the little river.a bridge spans something (=crosses a wide area)By 1875 a railroad bridge spanned the Missouri.a bridge links something to/with somethingThere's a road bridge linking the site with Stockton town centre.types of bridgea stone/wooden/iron bridgeThe iron bridge was built in 1811.a railway bridge British English, a railroad bridge American English (=for trains)Go under the railway bridge and turn right.a road bridge (=for cars)The government plans to construct a new road bridge to the island.a suspension bridge (=one that hangs from strong steel ropes)A famous suspension bridge spans the estuary.a swing bridge British English (=one that can be pulled up for ships to go under)a toll bridge (=one that you pay to go across)a humpback bridge British English (=a short bridge with a steep slope at each side)
over a river/road etcOVER A RIVER/ROAD ETCTB [countable] a structure built over a river, road etc that allows people or vehicles to cross from one side to the other → suspension bridge, swing bridge2 connectionCONNECTIONCONNECTED WITH [countable] something that provides a connection between two things SYN linkbridge between/to The training programme is seen as a bridge between school and work. a scheme to build bridges (=make a better relationship) between the police and the community3 shipSHIPTTW [countable usually singular] the raised part of a ship from which the officers control it4 card gameCARD GAMEDGC [uncountable] a card game for four players, who play in pairs5 → the bridge of your nose6 pair of glassesPAIR OF GLASSESMH [countable usually singular] the part of a pair of glasses that rests on your nose7 musical instrumentMUSICAL INSTRUMENTAPM [countable usually singular] a small piece of wood under the strings of a violin or guitar, used to keep them in position8 for teethFOR TEETHMH [countable] a small piece of metal that keeps false teeth in place by attaching them to your real teeth → burn your bridges at burn1(18), → cross that bridge when you come to it at cross1(10), → be (all) water under the bridge at water1(6)COLLOCATIONSverbsbuild a bridge (also erect a bridge formal)Finally a new bridge was erected over the road.cross a bridgeAn estimated 150,000 cars cross the bridge each day.a bridge crosses somethingA pretty stone bridge crosses the little river.a bridge spans something (=crosses a wide area)By 1875 a railroad bridge spanned the Missouri.a bridge links something to/with somethingThere's a road bridge linking the site with Stockton town centre.types of bridgea stone/wooden/iron bridgeThe iron bridge was built in 1811.a railway bridge British English, a railroad bridge American English (=for trains)Go under the railway bridge and turn right.a road bridge (=for cars)The government plans to construct a new road bridge to the island.a suspension bridge (=one that hangs from strong steel ropes)A famous suspension bridge spans the estuary.a swing bridge British English (=one that can be pulled up for ships to go under)a toll bridge (=one that you pay to go across)a humpback bridge British English (=a short bridge with a steep slope at each side) Examples from the Corpus
bridge• Helen bought her love seat, a sky blue velveteen fold-out, and also her bridge table.• One rail bridge, well camouflaged, is not shown on any map.• He designed the Kelham and Stockwith bridges in Nottinghamshire.• A tanker had been swept over the bridge just before we arrived.• The bridge at Yeald Brow was refurbished only last year.• The bridge spans the watercourse descending from Coire Mhic Nobuil in a very attractive setting, well seen from the parapet.build bridges• Stuart knew very little about building bridges.• She could picture her feelings and build bridges between different emotional ideas as a basis for reality testing and impulse control.• Patrick was right, she must build bridges now with Lizzy.• Instead of building bridges to nowhere, we will build a solid foundation for our nation and its future generations.• He had a strong commitment to building bridges between the divided community here.• The landed nobility showed no inclination to build bridges with urban property-owners, let alone workers and peasants.• He helped them to build bridges and who knows what all.• The group has been trying to build bridges between Cuba and the U.S.• The class erupted in laughter and they were like, you build bridges so they can blow them up?bridgebridge2 ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 LESSto reduce or get rid of the difference between two things The differences between our two cultures can be bridged if we continue to communicate. Alvin managed to bridge the gap between ballet and modern dance.2 TB written to build or form a bridge over something a fallen tree bridging the stream→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
bridge• Writtle College has also signposted the three-quarter mile circular trail route, built stiles and bridged a large ditch.• What illusion was it that she bridged between this world and that?• This was not so wide as the first one had been, and she bridged it safely.• Thankfully, efforts are already under way to bridge the digital divide.• Can they bridge the gulf between the visitors and themselves?• A log bridged the stream.bridge the gap between• So Monnens decided to try to bridge the gap between advertisers and Web sites.• The underlying assumption of the project is that certain computer-based experiences can help pupils bridge the gap between arithmetical and algebraic thinking.• The book will be useful reading for anyone seeking to bridge the gap between data and theory in ecology.• Many children find bridging the gap between kindergarten and first grade to be stressful.• The Arts Centre was planning to promote local-based talent and bridge the gap between pub gigs and the 3,000 capacity Hummingbird venue.• In these circumstances he is considered to have developed a model which does not bridge the gap between reality and his aspirations.• We need a program to bridge the gap between the police and local youngsters.• Reasoning along such lines is necessary to bridge the gap between the public and the private aspect of authority.• An attempt will be made to identify best practice, to help bridge the gap between theoretical prescriptions and practical modelling procedures.From Longman Business Dictionarybridgebridge /brɪdʒ/ (also bridging /ˈbrɪdʒɪŋ/) adjective [only before noun]FINANCE bridge loan/finance/financing etc an arrangement to borrow money for a short time until you can make more long term financial arrangementsThe company would have collapsed without bridge finance.Origin bridge1 1. Old English brycg2. (1800-1900) biritch “bridge” ((1800-1900)), perhaps from an unrecorded Turkish bir-üç “one-three” 