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What (who) is wedge - definition

MECHANICAL DEVICE; TRIANGULAR SHAPED TOOL; PORTABLE INCLINED PLANE; ONE OF THE SIX CLASSICAL SIMPLE MACHINES

Wedge (mechanics); Wedges; Wedge (mechanical device)

wedge

I

n. to drive a wedge between; into

II

v.

1) (d; intr., tr.) to wedge between; into

2) (N; used with an adjective) she wedged the door open

wedge

wedge¹

¦ noun

1. a piece of wood, metal, etc. with a thick end that tapers to a thin edge, that is driven between two objects or parts of an object to secure or separate them.

2. a wedge-shaped thing or piece.

a golf club with a low, angled face for maximum loft.

3. a shoe with a fairly high heel forming a solid block with the sole.

4. Brit. informal money or earnings.

¦ verb

1. fix in position using a wedge.

2. force into a narrow space.

Phrases

drive a wedge between cause a breach between.

the thin end of the wedge informal an action of little intrinsic importance that is likely to lead to more serious developments.

Origin

OE wecg (n.), of Gmc origin.

--------

wedge²

¦ verb prepare (pottery clay) for use by cutting, kneading, and throwing down to homogenize it and remove air pockets.

Origin

C17: of unknown origin.

wedge

(wedges, wedging, wedged)

1.

If you wedge something, you force it to remain in a particular position by holding it there tightly or by fixing something next to it to prevent it from moving.

I shut the shed door and wedged it with a log of wood...

We slammed the gate after them, wedging it shut with planks.

VERB: V n, V n adj

2.

If you wedge something somewhere, you fit it there tightly.

Wedge the plug into the hole...

VERB: V n prep

3.

A wedge is an object with one pointed edge and one thick edge, which you put under a door to keep it firmly in position.

N-COUNT

4.

A wedge of something such as fruit or cheese is a piece of it that has a thick triangular shape.

N-COUNT: usu N of n

5.

If someone drives a wedge between two people who are close, they cause ill feelings between them in order to weaken their relationship.

I started to feel Toby was driving a wedge between us.

PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR between pl-n

6.

If you say that something is the thin end of the wedge, you mean that it appears to be unimportant at the moment, but that it is the beginning of a bigger, more harmful development. (BRIT)

I think it's the thin end of the wedge when you have armed police permanently on patrol round a city.

PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v

Wikipedia

Wedge

A wedge is a triangular shaped tool, and is a portable inclined plane, and one of the six simple machines. It can be used to separate two objects or portions of an object, lift up an object, or hold an object in place. It functions by converting a force applied to its blunt end into forces perpendicular (normal) to its inclined surfaces. The mechanical advantage of a wedge is given by the ratio of the length of its slope to its width. Although a short wedge with a wide angle may do a job faster, it requires more force than a long wedge with a narrow angle.

The force is applied on a flat, broad surface. This energy is transported to the pointy, sharp end of the wedge, hence the force is transported.

The wedge simply transports energy in the form of friction and collects it to the pointy end, consequently breaking the item.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedge

Examples of use of wedge

1. In practice Ive used a seven, nine, four–iron, a three–wood, a sand wedge and a lob wedge.

2. Lord Goldsmith said÷ If this were the thin end of the wedge its the thinnest end of the wedge there can conceivably be.

3. You can also talk about driving a wedge between people.

4. Beneath, she was wearing denim jeans and wedge heels.

5. "It‘s not exclusive to wedge issues," Esposito said.