bridges: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral, used across all registers from everyday conversation to formal and technical writing.
Quick answer
What does “bridges” mean?
A structure built over a physical obstacle (such as a river, road, or valley) to provide a way across.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A structure built over a physical obstacle (such as a river, road, or valley) to provide a way across.
Anything that serves to connect, reduce distance, or overcome a gap between people, ideas, things, or states.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. Minor lexical preference: 'flyover' (UK) vs. 'overpass' (US) for a certain type of road bridge, but 'bridge' itself is universal.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation. Both varieties use 'bridge' extensively in metaphorical contexts (e.g., bridge the gap).
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “bridges” in a Sentence
bridge N (bridge a river/gap)N + bridge (London Bridge)ADJ + bridge (old bridge)V + across/over + bridge (walk across the bridge)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bridges” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new policy aims to bridge the north-south divide.
- Can we bridge that price difference?
American English
- The software bridges the gap between design and engineering.
- We bridged the funding shortfall with a loan.
adjective
British English
- Bridge-building talks were held in Geneva.
- He attended a bridge tournament.
American English
- She is the bridge champion for our state.
- The bridge column in the newspaper is popular.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The merger will bridge the two market segments.' Also used in project names (e.g., 'Bridge Finance').
Academic
Used literally in engineering/architecture. Metaphorically in social sciences: 'Cultural bridges', 'bridging social capital.'
Everyday
Literal directions: 'Go over the bridge.' Figurative advice: 'You need to build bridges with your colleagues.'
Technical
In dentistry: 'dental bridge'. In music: 'bridge of a song'. In networking: 'network bridge'. In card games: 'the game of bridge'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bridges”
- Misspelling as 'bridgs'.
- Incorrect article use: 'He crossed the bridge' vs. 'He crossed a bridge' (context dependent).
- Using singular for plural in set phrases: 'burn your bridge' (incorrect) vs. 'burn your bridges' (correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very commonly used metaphorically to mean any kind of connection or means of overcoming a separation (e.g., 'build bridges between cultures', 'bridge the gap').
A viaduct is a specific type of bridge, typically a long one with many arches, carrying a road or railway over a valley or low-lying area. All viaducts are bridges, but not all bridges are viaducts.
Use singular for one specific or generic structure ('a bridge', 'the bridge'). Use plural when referring to more than one, or in the fixed metaphorical idiom 'build/burn bridges' which implies multiple connections or options.
Yes, commonly. As a verb, it means 'to make a connection between two things or to reduce the difference between them' (e.g., 'to bridge a river', 'to bridge cultural differences').
A structure built over a physical obstacle (such as a river, road, or valley) to provide a way across.
Bridges is usually neutral, used across all registers from everyday conversation to formal and technical writing. in register.
Bridges: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪdʒɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪdʒɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “burn one's bridges”
- “cross that bridge when one comes to it”
- “water under the bridge”
- “bridge the gap”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BRIDGE as a BRIDal GEar connecting two sides of a river, like a wedding connects two people.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONNECTION / TRANSITION IS A BRIDGE (e.g., 'bridge the generation gap', 'a bridge between theory and practice').
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'water under the bridge' mean?