hinge

The definition of a hinge is a movable mechanism that joins a door and a frame, a gate and a fence or other related things that need to open and close of a hinge is a central or important point that everything depends upon.

(noun)

  1. The joint between a door and a frame that pivots when the door opens is an example of a hinge.
  2. A pivotal moment in time that everything turns on or depends upon is an example of a hinge.

To hinge is defined as to attach or join to something using a mechanism that allows for swinging or opening, or to depend on entirely or to turn on entirely.

(verb)

  1. When an ironing board is attached to a wall by a mechanism that allows it to fold up, this is an example of a time when the ironing board hinges to the door.
  2. When a project depends upon receiving funding, this is an example of a time when the project hinges on the receipt of funding.

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See hinge in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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

Origin: ME, earlier henge (vowel raised before nasal) < hengen (< ON hengja) or < hangen: see hang

transitive verb hinged, hinging

to equip with or attach by a hinge

intransitive verb

to hang as on a hinge; be contingent; depend: hopes hinging on his success

See hinge in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A jointed or flexible device that allows the turning or pivoting of a part, such as a door or lid, on a stationary frame.
    b. A similar structure or part, such as one that enables the valves of a bivalve mollusk to open and close.
  2. A small folded paper rectangle gummed on one side, used especially to fasten stamps in an album.
  3. A point or circumstance on which subsequent events depend.
verb hinged hinged, hing·ing, hing·es
verb, transitive
  1. To attach by or equip with or as if with hinges or a hinge.
  2. To consider or make (something) dependent on something else; predicate: “convenient and misleading fictions for hinging an argument” (Stephen Jay Gould).
verb, intransitive
To be contingent on a single factor; depend: This plan hinges on her approval.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English henge; see konk- in Indo-European roots

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hinge

left: strap hinge

right: T-hinge

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hinge

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