English Words in Action, Group B

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1. A structure that connects two points by being built above and across a river, another road, or other obstacle to allow people or vehicles to cross it: They used a bridge to go from one side of the river to the other side.

A bridge is also a natural structure resembling a bridge; especially, an arch-like rock formation which spans a ravine.

2. Something which provides a link, a connection, or a means of coming together: His research serves as a bridge between the past and the present.

They hope to build a bridge between the two cultures with the hope that they will be able to understand each other better.

3. The platform or room on a ship or other vessel from which the captain controls its course; so named because on early steamers it had the form of a span between the paddlewheel boxes: The captain went to the ship's bridge to make sure the navigating procedures were being followed.
4. A set of one or more false teeth that are attached to adjoining teeth: The dental bridge can be permanently anchored to natural teeth as a fixed bridge, or set into a metal appliance and temporarily clipped on to natural teeth as a removable bridge.
5. The top bony part of the nose between the eyes: The bridge of the nose is the area where a pair of eyeglasses that connects the two lenses together is at the front and rests on the nose.
6. A part of a stringed instrument that keeps the strings away from its body: This bridge is high and curved on a violin but shallow and straight on a guitar.
7. A transitional or connecting section in a musical work: A musical bridge is the movement between a verse and the chorus or that which connects one section to the next section.
8. A long-handled support for a player's cue in billiards: The player used his hand as a bridge for the cue during the billiard game.
9. In electrical engineering, a part of an electrical circuit fitted with a device that measures electrical resistance or capacitance: The engineer installed the bridge in order to make sure the entire electrical system was safe.
10. An online telecommunications connection: They had a telecommunications bridge between the two-local area networks.

1. To travel on a structure across an obstacle which allows people or vehicles to get across it: Blaine and Inge are bridging their way to the other side of the river to visit friends.
2. To create a means of communication or understanding between people or a means of reconciling their differences: The local leaders hope to bridge the divisions between the political groups.

Bernhart wrote a book that attempts to bridge the generation gaps.

Primarily in the U.S., money which a bank loans to a person for a short period of time until he or she receives the money that will be provided from another source; such as, from selling a house, a car, etc.: Ernie received a notice from the bank to reassure him that the bridge loan for which he had applied was approved.

1. Short, stiff hair, fiber, etc.: Sam's face was covered with bristles which he brushed with the bristles of a brush.
2. Short stiff hairs or hairlike structures on animals or plants; or a mass of short stiff hairs growing; especially, on a hog's back or on a man's face: The fancy kitchen supply store sold brushes made of hog’s bristle.

The man's wife would not kiss him because the bristles on his face irritated the skin of her mouth and face.

1. To stand on end and to become stiff: The hair on the dog's neck bristled as he barked at something which was moving outside.

Electricity can make a person's hair bristle and become stiff.

2. To cause the hair on the back of an animal to go up or to rise: The cat bristled when it saw a dog coming toward it.
3. To react in an angry or offended manner: The author of the book bristled when someone suggested that he plagiarized some of the content.

The actress bristled at the criticism presented in newspaper articles.

4. To abound with sharp stiff thorns or sticks: The path bristled with the thorns of many bushes which caught onto the clothes of the people as they went for their walk.

1. Covered with stiff hair or hairlike structures: Although pigs look as if they are hairless, they are actually bristly animals.
2. Thick with prickly or thorny leaves; such as, hairy-like leaves: Some bristly plants can cause irritation to the skins of people who have direct contact with them.
3. Showing or tending to show agitation, indignation, or anger: During the court trial, there was a bristly exchange of words between the lawyers.

A piece of decorative jewelry frequently worn by women: Elizabeth had a beautiful broach which she inherited from her grandmother.

1. To hint or to mention: Although Mike's brother has been dating Ashton for years, he has never broached or initiated the subject of marriage with her.
2. To bring up or to introduce: The committee wanted to broach a special subject for discussion.

Timothy wanted to broach a new topic for the discussion.
3. To suggest or to propose something: Will and Elaina are broaching their plans for celebrating their wedding anniversary next week.
4. To open by making a hole: Joel tried to broach a cask of wine.

© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

1. A drug that makes someone calm: Sam finds his work very stressful; so, before he went home, he stopped by the drugstore to get a bromide that would help him feel less tense.
2. A comment or statement that is meant to make another person feel happier or calmer, but which is not original or effective: The politician's speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone should work together to improve the economy. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

A small stream of water: After a long hot hike, Tomeka washed her feet in the cool water of the brook.