wedge

A piece with a thick end and a thin edge, often used to hold things apart.

• Put a wedge under the door.
• She served the fish with lemon wedges.
• He drove a metal wedge into the log.

Common phrases: wooden wedge, lemon wedge, cheese wedge, metal wedge

Something that makes people or groups disagree or grow apart.

• The dispute drove a wedge between them.
• Politics can create a wedge between friends.
• Her lies became a wedge in their marriage.

How to use it: a wedge between A and B (Money became a wedge between the brothers.)

Similar words: division, barrier

Common phrases: drive a wedge, wedge between people

If you force something into a tight space, you push it in until it fits closely.

• Wedge the bag into that gap.
• My shoe was wedged between two rocks.
• Can we wedge another chair into this corner?

How to use it: wedge something between A and B (She wedged her bag between two seats.); wedge something into something (He wedged the box into the cupboard.)

Similar words: jam, cram

Common phrases: wedge something in, wedge something between, wedge into something

If you put a solid object under or against something, you keep it firmly in place.

• Wedge the door open, please.
• She wedged the window shut with a small block.
• The table was wedged securely with pieces of wood.

How to use it: wedge something open/shut (We wedged the door open with a brick.); wedge something with something (They wedged the wheel with a wooden block.)

Similar words: prop, secure

Common phrases: wedge something open, wedge something shut

If a computer or program does this, it stops responding and cannot continue working.

• The server may wedge during startup.
• The kernel wedged after the update.
• If the process wedges, restart the computer.

Similar words: freeze, hang

Common phrases: system can wedge, program may wedge