wedge
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.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.
n.a triangular tool or object used for splitting, lifting, or securing by being driven into a narrow space.
Simple“He used a wooden wedge to keep the heavy workshop door from closing.”
In context“The lumberjack drove a steel wedge into the crack in the log to finish splitting it apart.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a piece of food, like cheese or fruit, cut into a triangular shape.
n.a portion of food or material cut into a triangular or tapered shape.
Simple“She served the drink with a small wedge of lime on the rim of the glass.”
In context“The platter featured several wedges of aged cheddar arranged around a bowl of grapes.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a type of golf club used for short, high shots.
n.a specific type of iron golf club designed for high-lofted short-distance shots, such as from sand or tall grass.
Simple“He chose a sand wedge to get the ball out of the bunker.”
In context“The professional golfer expertly used a pitching wedge to loft the ball over the trees and onto the green.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to force something into a very small or narrow space.
v.to force or pack something into a narrow gap or confined space.
Simple“I managed to wedge my suitcase into the overhead locker on the plane.”
In context“The commuters tried to wedge themselves into the crowded train carriage during the morning rush hour.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to hold something in place using a wedge.
v.to support, secure, or stay an object using a wedge-shaped piece of material.
Simple“You should wedge the wheel of the car so it doesn't roll down the hill.”
In context“The carpenter carefully wedged the window frame to ensure it remained perfectly level during installation.”
From Middle English wegge (“wedge”), from Old English weċġ (“wedge”), from Proto-West Germanic wagi, from Proto-Germanic wagjaz.
From Wedgewood, surname of the person who occupied this position on the first list of 1828.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.