ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wedge

n. · v.
US //ˈwɛdʒ// UK //wˈɛdʒ// wedge
  1. 1 a tool or shape (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a piece of wood or metal that is thick at one end and thin at the other, used to split wood or keep a door open.

    a triangular tool or object used for splitting, lifting, or securing by being driven into a narrow space.

    Example

    He used a wooden wedge to keep the heavy workshop door from closing.

    Example

    The lumberjack drove a steel wedge into the crack in the log to finish splitting it apart.
  2. 2 a piece of food (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    a piece of food, like cheese or fruit, cut into a triangular shape.

    a portion of food or material cut into a triangular or tapered shape.

    Example

    She served the drink with a small wedge of lime on the rim of the glass.

    Example

    The platter featured several wedges of aged cheddar arranged around a bowl of grapes.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 golf club (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Sport

    a type of golf club used for short, high shots.

    a specific type of iron golf club designed for high-lofted short-distance shots, such as from sand or tall grass.

    Example

    He chose a sand wedge to get the ball out of the bunker.

    Example

    The professional golfer expertly used a pitching wedge to loft the ball over the trees and onto the green.
  2. 4 money (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Informal Slang Finance

    a large amount of money.

    a substantial quantity of money, typically cash.

    Example

    He earned a serious wedge of cash working on the construction site all summer.

    Example

    After the deal was finalised, he walked away with a tidy wedge of money in his pocket.
  3. 5 to squeeze in (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to force something into a very small or narrow space.

    to force or pack something into a narrow gap or confined space.

    Example

    I managed to wedge my suitcase into the overhead locker on the plane.

    Example

    The commuters tried to wedge themselves into the crowded train carriage during the morning rush hour.
  4. 6 to secure with a wedge (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to hold something in place using a wedge.

    to support, secure, or stay an object using a wedge-shaped piece of material.

    Example

    You should wedge the wheel of the car so it doesn't roll down the hill.

    Example

    The carpenter carefully wedged the window frame to ensure it remained perfectly level during installation.
Etymology 1

From Middle English wegge (“wedge”), from Old English weċġ (“wedge”), from Proto-West Germanic wagi, from Proto-Germanic wagjaz.

Etymology 2

From Wedgewood, surname of the person who occupied this position on the first list of 1828.

Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference