bridge

I. noun Etymology: Middle English brigge, from Old English brycg; akin to Old High German brucka bridge, Old Church Slavic brŭvŭno beam Date: before 12th century 1. a. a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle b. a time, place, or means of connection or transition 2. something resembling a bridge in form or function: as a. the upper bony part of the nose; also the part of a pair of glasses that rests upon it b. a piece raising the strings of a musical instrument — see violin illustration c. the forward part of a ship's superstructure from which the ship is navigated d. gantry 2b e. the hand as a rest for a billiards or pool cue; also a device used as a cue rest 3. a. a musical passage linking two sections of a composition b. a partial denture anchored to adjacent teeth c. a connection (as an atom or group of atoms) that joins two different parts of a molecule (as opposite sides of a ring) 4. an electrical instrument or network for measuring or comparing resistances, inductances, capacitances, or impedances by comparing the ratio of two opposing voltages to a known ratio • bridgeless adjective II. transitive verb (bridged; bridging) Date: before 12th century 1. to make a bridge over or across <

bridge the gap

>; also to join by a bridge 2. to provide with a bridge • bridgeable adjective III. noun Etymology: alteration of earlier biritch, of unknown origin Date: circa 1897 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 equal to the final bid, and play with the hand of declarer's partner exposed and played by declarer; especially contract bridge