wedge1

 
Pronunciation: /wɛdʒ/

noun

  • 1a piece of wood, metal, etc. having one thick end and tapering to a thin edge, that is driven between two objects or parts of an object to secure or separate them: the door was secured by a wedge
  • an object or piece of something shaped like a wedge: a wedge of cheese
  • a formation of people or animals in the shape of a wedge: the wedge of horsemen crashed forward
  • 2a golf club with a low, angled face for maximum loft.
  • a shot made with a wedge: Davies hit a wedge to within a yard of the hole
  • 3a shoe with a fairly high heel forming a solid block with the sole.
  • a heel on a wedge shoe.
  • 4 [mass noun] British informal money or earnings: he invested his wedge in stocks and shares

verb

  • 1 [with object] fix in position using a wedge: [with object and complement]: the door was wedged open
  • 2 [with object and adverbial] force into a narrow space: she wedged her holdall between two bags

Phrases

drive a wedge between

separate: the general aimed to drive a wedge between the city and its northern defences
cause disagreement or hostility between: I’m not trying to drive a wedge between you and your father

the thin end of the wedge

informal an action or procedure of little importance that is likely to lead to more serious developments: a charge for nursery classes would be the thin end of the wedge and lead to charges for ordinary schooling

Derivatives

wedge-like

adjective

Origin:

Old English wecg (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wig