Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense hinges, present participle hinging, past tense, past participle hinged
countable noun
A hinge is a piece of metal, wood, or plastic that is used to join a door to its frame or to join two things together so that one of them can swing freely.
The top swung open on well-oiled hinges.
Phrasal verbs:
See hinge on
hinge in British English
(hɪndʒ)
noun
1.
a device for holding together two parts such that one can swing relative to the other, typically having two interlocking metal leaves held by a pin about which they pivot
2. anatomy
a type of joint, such as the knee joint, that moves only backwards and forwards; a joint that functions in only one plane
Technical name: ginglymus
3.
a similar structure in invertebrate animals, such as the joint between the two halves of a bivalve shell
4.
something on which events, opinions, etc, turn
5. Also called: mount philately
a small thin transparent strip of gummed paper for affixing a stamp to a page
verb
6. (transitive)
to attach or fit a hinge to (something)
7. (intr; usually foll by on or upon)
to depend (on)
8. (intransitive)
to hang or turn on or as if on a hinge
Derived forms
hinged
adjective
hingeless (ˈhingeless)
adjective
hingelike (ˈhingeˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C13: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch henge; see hang
hinge in American English
(hɪndʒ)
noun
1.
a joint or device on which a door, gate, lid, etc. swings
2.
a natural joint, as of the bivalve shell of a clam or oyster
3.
a thin, gummed piece of paper, folded for fastening a stamp in an album
4.
anything on which matters turn or depend; cardinal point or principle; pivot
verb transitiveWord forms: hinged or ˈhinging
5.
to equip with or attach by a hinge
verb intransitive
6.
to hang as on a hinge; be contingent; depend
hopes hinging on his success
Word origin
ME, earlier henge (vowel raised before nasal) < hengen (< ON hengja) or < hangen: see hang
hinge in Mechanical Engineering
(hɪndʒ)
Word forms: (regular plural) hinges
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Machinery and components)
A hinge is a device consisting of two interlocking metal pieces held by a pin around whichthey pivot.
One half of the hinge is welded to the door pillar, and the other half welded to the door, so that it doesnot come loose with repeated opening and closing of the door.
The lid of the box is connected to the base by hinges.
A hinge is a device consisting of two interlocking metal pieces held by a pin around whichthey pivot.
Examples of 'hinge' in a sentence
hinge
Apple may introduce a flexible display with a hinge at one side.
The Sun (2016)
The Sun understands the case could hinge on mobile phone footage of the incident filmed by the men and since seized by cops.
The Sun (2016)
The Sun reported that the case could hinge on mobile phone footage of the incident filmed by the menand seized by police.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your case hinges on what happened next.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But the crucial evidence may hinge on the slightest of nuances.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The game hinged on two incidents inside the space of a minute in the second half.
The Sun (2013)
How do the bits hinge together historically?
Rowbotham, Sheila The Past is Before Us - feminism in action since the 1960s (1989)
And much of their importance in history has hinged on the associations they have evoked.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One of the great modern managerial careers now hinges on a long shot.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Which means an awful lot hinges on the result.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The hinges of their cases snap and the booklet slides to the floor.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
They should at least take the door off its hinges.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The first half hinged on two scrums.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It seems now to hinge on confidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The destiny of both clubs could hinge on the result.
The Sun (2007)
The case appears to hinge on how the couple spent their final moments.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The door seal needs to be replaced but that requires a new door and hinges.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He felt that the answers could seriously affect the service and that it all hinged on the two access questions.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The sea chest beside the bunk was also empty, its lid hanging open from one hinge.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
We've put some blocks in place that give us something to hinge on to.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The whole future of the world may not hinge on our answers, but who knows?
Christianity Today (2000)
But one of its hinges had gone, and the other hinge was tearing too.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Britain and Europe are teetering on a hinge of history.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His success hinges greatly on something over which he has no control: the price of oil.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This stunning piece of cinema hinges on one reckless moment of childish stupidity, and rattles alarmingly between characters and crises on three continents.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Indeed, some of the most vivid memories I have brought home have hinged on something else entirely.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
hinge
British English: hinge /hɪndʒ/ NOUN
A hinge is a moveable joint made of metal, wood, or plastic that joins two things so that one of them can swing freely.
Heavy doors opened on oiled hinges.
American English: hinge
Arabic: مُفَصَّلَة
Brazilian Portuguese: dobradiça
Chinese: 铰链
Croatian: šarka
Czech: závěs pant
Danish: hængsel
Dutch: scharnier
European Spanish: bisagra
Finnish: sarana
French: gond
German: Scharnier
Greek: μεντεσές
Italian: cardine
Japanese: ちょうつがい
Korean: 경첩
Norwegian: hengsel
Polish: zawias
European Portuguese: dobradiça
Romanian: balama
Russian: петля
Latin American Spanish: bisagra
Swedish: gångjärn
Thai: บานพับ
Turkish: menteşe
Ukrainian: петля
Vietnamese: bản lề
All related terms of 'hinge'
hinge on
Something that hinges on one thing or event depends entirely on it.
butt hinge
a hinge made of two matching leaves, one recessed into a door and the other into the jamb so that they are in contact when the door is shut
hinge joint
a joint , such as the knee or elbow , which moves only in one plane
strap hinge
a hinge with a long leaf or flap attached to the face of a door, gate , etc