bride
woman on her wedding day
A woman who is getting married, or has just gotten married, usually talking about the wedding day.
- The bride walked slowly down the aisle, holding a bouquet of white roses.
- Everyone turned to watch the bride as she entered the church.
- After the ceremony, the bride and her friends posed for photos in the garden.
- The bride changed into a different dress for the evening reception.
- They surprised the bride with a song at the wedding dinner.
- The bride is wearing a white dress.
- The bride and groom are very happy today.
- We took many photos of the bride after the wedding.
- Her sister will be the bride next summer.
- The bride is standing with her new husband.
the church as Christ’s bride
In Christian religious writing, all Christian believers together, when they are spoken about as if they are married to Christ.
- In the sermon, the pastor spoke about the church as the bride of Christ.
- The hymn celebrates the joy of Christ united with his bride.
- Some theologians use marriage language to describe Christ’s love for his bride, the church.
- The phrase "the bride of Christ" means the church in Christian teaching.
- In some songs, the church is called the bride of Christ.
- This is a religious meaning of the word "bride," not about a real wedding.
- Base: bride
- Plural: brides
blushing bride
1shy or excited bride
A traditional way to describe a bride who looks shy, happy, or a little embarrassed on her wedding day.
- The photographer captured the blushing bride smiling at her new husband.
- Everyone turned to see the blushing bride walk down the aisle.
bride price
1payment made to bride’s family
Money or goods that the man or his family pay to the woman’s family when they get married, in some cultures.
- Anthropologists have studied how the bride price affects family relationships.
- In some regions, the bride price is negotiated carefully between the two families.
bride-to-be
1woman who will soon marry
A woman who is engaged and will get married in the future.
- The bride-to-be chose her wedding dress last weekend.
- They threw a small party for the bride-to-be and her friends.
child bride
1girl married while underage
A girl who gets married when she is still very young and not yet an adult, usually seen as a serious social problem.
- The report calls for stronger laws to protect girls from becoming a child bride.
- Many organizations work to end child bride marriages around the world.
father of the bride
1the bride’s father
The father of the woman who is getting married.
- The father of the bride gave a very emotional speech at the reception.
- As father of the bride, he felt both happy and a little sad.
give away the bride
1formally present bride in ceremony
To walk with the bride and officially present her to the groom in a wedding ceremony, usually done by her father or another close person.
- Her mother will give away the bride instead of her father.
- In some modern weddings, both parents give away the bride together.
here comes the bride
1announcing the bride’s arrival
A phrase, and also the name of a famous wedding song, used when the bride walks in at the start of the wedding ceremony.
- The organist began to play "Here Comes the Bride" as she entered the chapel.
- Children whispered "Here comes the bride" when they saw her at the door.
June bride
1woman married in June
A bride who gets married in the month of June, often linked with a tradition that June is a popular month for weddings.
- She always dreamed of being a June bride with an outdoor ceremony.
- Hotels offer special packages for June bride weddings.
mail-order bride
1woman chosen for marriage via service
A woman who is found as a wife through a company, website, or advertisement, often in another country, instead of through normal social contact.
- The documentary follows the life of a mail-order bride who moved to another country.
- Critics argue that the mail-order bride industry can lead to exploitation.
runaway bride
1bride who runs away
A bride who suddenly leaves or disappears because she decides not to go through with the wedding.
- Tabloids reported the story of a runaway bride who disappeared two days before the ceremony.
- The film is a romantic comedy about a runaway bride who keeps leaving her fiancés.
war bride
1woman marrying soldier in wartime
A woman who marries a soldier during a war or soon after it, often when the soldier is from another country.
- The museum has letters written by a war bride who moved overseas after World War II.
- Many war bride stories describe the difficulties of starting a new life in a foreign country.
bride and groom
1the couple getting married
The woman and the man who are getting married to each other at a wedding.
- The photographer asked the bride and groom to stand by the window.
- The guests stood as the bride and groom entered the hall.
- The guests cheered when the bride and groom entered the reception hall.
- They reserved a special table for the bride and groom.
- Everyone took photos of the bride and groom after the ceremony.