noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A hinged bridge which can be raised (to prevent its being crossed, as across a moat, or to allow watercraft to travel beneath it).

   "Near-synonym: bascule bridge"

2. 2
   a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it wordnet
3. 3
   A tendency to provide only limited access. attributive, figuratively

   "drawbridge mentality"

Synonyms

All synonyms

bascule bridgeabatisadvanced workbalistrariabankbanquette

Example

More examples

"Tom raced across the drawbridge."

Etymology

From draw + bridge.

Related phrases

drawbridge mentalitypull up the drawbridge

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.