BRIDGEHEAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bridgehead mean? 

• BRIDGEHEAD (noun)
  The noun BRIDGEHEAD has 2 senses:

1. an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies

2. a defensive post at the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy

  Familiarity information: BRIDGEHEAD used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BRIDGEHEAD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

bridgehead; foothold

Context example:

the only foothold left for British troops in Europe was Gibraltar

Hypernyms ("bridgehead" is a kind of...):

combat area; combat zone (a military area where combat forces operate)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bridgehead"):

airhead (a bridgehead seized by airborne troops)

beachhead (a bridgehead on the enemy's shoreline seized by an amphibious operation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A defensive post at the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("bridgehead" is a kind of...):

post; station (the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand)