Meaning & use
bridge span
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
the distance between two supports of a bridge, or one section of a bridge between two supports
Grammar: Countable: a bridge span, two bridge spans.
Patterns
- a bridge span of X meters
- the main bridge span
The bridge span is 1,200 meters, making it one of the longest in the country.
Engineers inspected each bridge span for cracks after the earthquake.
The old bridge span was replaced with a modern steel structure.
Word forms
| plural | bridge spans |
|---|
Common combinations
- main span
- The main span of the bridge crosses the deepest part of the river.
- longest span
- This bridge has the longest span in Asia.
- span length
- The span length was increased to allow larger ships to pass.
- suspension bridge span
- The suspension bridge span swayed slightly in the wind.
Synonyms and how they differ
- span
- Used alone, 'span' can mean the same thing, but 'bridge span' is more specific and avoids confusion with other meanings of 'span'.
Word family
- span noun
- the distance or section between two points
Commonly confused: bridge span or bridge?
bridge span vs bridge
'Bridge' refers to the whole structure, while 'bridge span' refers specifically to the distance or section between supports.
Practice
The ______ of the new bridge is over two kilometers, making it the longest in the region.
Choose one answer.
In engineering, 'span' is the precise term for the distance between supports. 'Length' could be understood but is less technical; 'distance' and 'width' do not refer to the bridge's supporting structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bridge span”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.