wedge

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Translations 1.4.2 Derived terms

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈwɛdʒ/, SAMPA: /"wEdZ/

  Rhymes: -ɛdʒ

[edit] Etymology

Middle English wegge (“‘wedge’”), Old English wecg (“‘wedge’”)

[edit] Noun

wedge (plural wedges)

1. One of the simple machines; a piece of material, such as metal or wood, thick at one edge and tapered to a thin edge at the other for insertion in a narrow crevice, used for splitting, tightening, securing, or levering (Wikipedia article).

   Stick a wedge under the door, will you, it keeps blowing shut.

2. A piece (of food etc.) having this shape.

   Can you cut me a wedge of cheese?

3. (archaic) A flank of cavalry acting to split some portion of an opposing army, charging in an inverted V formation.
4. (golf) A type of iron club used for short, high trajectories.
5. A group of geese or swans when they are in flight in a V formation.
6. (in plural) Wedge-heeled shoes.
7. (colloquial, British) A quantity of money.

   I made a big fat wedge from that job.

[edit] Synonyms

• group of geese: skein

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to wedge (third-person singular simple present wedges, present participle wedging, simple past and past participle wedged)

1. To support or secure using a wedge.

   I wedged open the window with a screwdriver.

2. To force into a narrow gap.

   He had wedged the package between the wall and the back of the sofa.

3. To work wet clay by cutting or kneading for the purpose of homogenizing the mass and expelling air bubbles.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• wedgie