/brɪdʒ; brɪdʒ/
n
1 structure of wood, iron, concrete, etc, providing a way across a river, road, railway, etc 桥梁
*a bridge across the stream 横跨溪流的桥梁
* a railway bridge, ie one for a railway across a river, etc 铁路桥梁（跨越河流等的）. =>illus 见插图.
2 (fig 比喻) thing that provides a connection or contact between two or more things 借以相互联系或接触的事物
*Cultural exchanges are a way of building bridges between nations. 文化交流是国与国之间建立联系的桥梁.
3 raised platform across the deck of a ship, from which it is controlled and navigated by the captain and officers 船桥, 舰桥（船长及高级船员操纵及导航之处）.
4 (a) bony upper part of the nose 鼻梁.
(b) part of a pair of glasses that rests on the nose 鼻梁架　　镜上的）. =>illus at glass 见glass之插图.
5 movable piece of wood, etc over which the strings of a violin, etc are stretched 琴马（小提琴等上　弦用的）. =>illus at App
1 见附录1之插图, page xi.
6 device for keeping false teeth in place, fastened to natural teeth on each side 齿桥（固定假牙用者）.
7 (idm 习语) burn one's boats/bridges => burn2. cross one's bridges when one comes to them => cross2. a lot of/much water has flowed, etc under the bridge => water1. water under the bridge => water1.

v
1 [Tn] build or form a bridge over (sth) 在（某事物）上架桥
*bridge a river, canal, ravine, etc 在河流、运河、深谷等上面架桥.
2 (idm 习语) bridge a/the `gap
(a) fill an awkward or empty space 填补尴尬的或空白的间隙
*bridge a gap in the conversation 不使谈话冷场
* A snack in the afternoon bridges the gap between lunch and supper. 在午餐和晚餐之间, 下午吃些点心补充一下.
(b) reduce the distance (between widely contrasting groups) 缩短（悬殊的）距离
*How can we bridge the gap between rich and poor? 怎样才能缩小贫富之间的差距?

/brɪdʒ; brɪdʒ/
n [U] card-game for four players developed from whist, in which one player's cards are exposed on the table and played by his partner 桥牌.