# wedge

/ˈwɛdʒ/ (US) · /wˈɛdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wedge
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a tool or shape

noun · CEFR B2

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.

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

- He used a wooden wedge to keep the heavy workshop door from closing.
- The lumberjack drove a steel wedge into the crack in the log to finish splitting it apart.

### 2. a piece of food

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- She served the drink with a small wedge of lime on the rim of the glass.
- The platter featured several wedges of aged cheddar arranged around a bowl of grapes.

### 3. golf club

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- He chose a sand wedge to get the ball out of the bunker.
- The professional golfer expertly used a pitching wedge to loft the ball over the trees and onto the green.

### 4. money

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal · Slang

a large amount of money.

For teachers: a substantial quantity of money, typically cash.

- He earned a serious wedge of cash working on the construction site all summer.
- After the deal was finalised, he walked away with a tidy wedge of money in his pocket.

### 5. to squeeze in

verb · CEFR B2

to force something into a very small or narrow space.

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

- I managed to wedge my suitcase into the overhead locker on the plane.
- The commuters tried to wedge themselves into the crowded train carriage during the morning rush hour.

### 6. to secure with a wedge

verb · CEFR B2

to hold something in place using a wedge.

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

- You should wedge the wheel of the car so it doesn't roll down the hill.
- The carpenter carefully wedged the window frame to ensure it remained perfectly level during installation.

## Examples

- I used a small wooden wedge to keep the door open.
- The carpenter hammered a metal wedge into the log to split it into smaller pieces for the fire.
- In classical mechanics, the wedge is considered one of the six simple machines, functioning as a portable inclined plane that converts force applied to its blunt end into lateral pressure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.