Definition

Noun: A bridge that has a roadway supported by cables that are anchored at both ends.

Usage

A "suspension bridge" is a specific type of bridge. It is used to describe a structure where the main load-bearing element is a system of overhead cables suspended from towers, which support the deck below via vertical suspender cables or rods. The term is used as a countable noun.

Examples

• The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is a famous suspension bridge.
• Engineers are designing a new suspension bridge to span the deep canyon.
• The old suspension bridge swayed slightly in the strong wind.

Advanced Usage

• "Cable-stayed bridge" distinction: While both use cables and towers, a "suspension bridge" has cables that run continuously between two anchorages, supporting the deck from above. A cable-stayed bridge has cables that connect directly from the towers to the deck.
  • The new crossing is a cable-stayed bridge, not a traditional suspension bridge.

Variants and Related Words

• Suspension (noun): The act of suspending or the state of being suspended. In engineering, it refers to a system that supports weight while allowing movement.
• Bridge (noun): A structure built to span a physical obstacle.

Synonyms

• Cable bridge: A general term for bridges supported by cables.
• Wire bridge: An older or less common term.

Related Phrases and Terms

• Main cable: The primary load-bearing cable in a suspension bridge.
• Suspender cable/rod: The vertical elements connecting the main cable to the deck.
• Anchor block/anchorage: The massive structure at each end that secures the main cables.

Noun

1. a bridge that has a roadway supported by cables that are anchored at both ends