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wedge
The core imagery of this word is the conversion of downward pressure into sideways force. It suggests a feeling of tension, tightness, and stability. When used as a tool, it implies a purposeful separation or a stubborn fixation of an object. In social or psychological contexts, it describes the creation of a rift or a barrier. To drive a wedge between people evokes a sense of deliberate disruption, where a small point of contention is expanded until a relationship is split wide open.
Countable when referring to a physical tool or a slice of food. Uncountable when referring to the general shape or a conceptual gap.
Meanings
A piece of hard material with one thick end and one thin edge, used to split objects or hold things in place.
"He used a wooden wedge to keep the door open."
To force something into a narrow space.
"She managed to wedge the book into the crowded shelf."