Nearby Words
noun
1.
any of various devices dropped by a chain, cable, or rope to the bottom of a body of water for preventing or restricting the motion of a vessel or other floating object, typically having broad, hooklike arms that bury themselves in the bottom to provide a firm hold.
2.
any similar device for holding fast or checking motion: an anchor of stones.
3.
any device for securing a suspension or cantilever bridge at either end.
4.
any of various devices, as a metal tie, for binding one part of a structure to another.
5.
EXPANDa person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability, or security; mainstay: Hope was his only anchor.
6.
Radio and Television. a person who is the main broadcaster on a program of news, sports, etc., and who usually also serves as coordinator of all participating broadcasters during the program; anchorman or anchorwoman; anchorperson.
7.
Television. a program that attracts many viewers who are likely to stay tuned to the network for the programs that follow.
8.
a well-known store, especially a department store, that attracts customers to the shopping center in which it is located.
9.
Slang. automotive brakes.
10.
Military. a key position in defense lines.
11.
COLLAPSEAlso, anchorman. Sports.
a.
the person on a team, especially a relay team, who competes last.
b.
the person farthest to the rear on a tug-of-war team.
verb (used with object)
12.
to hold fast by an anchor.
13.
to fix or fasten; affix firmly: The button was anchored to the cloth with heavy thread.
14.
to act or serve as an anchor for: He anchored the evening news.
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Anchors
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
verb (used without object)
Idioms15.
to drop anchor; lie or ride at anchor: The ship anchored at dawn.
16.
to keep hold or be firmly fixed: The insect anchored fast to its prey.
17.
Sports, Radio and Television. to act or serve as an anchor.
18.
at anchor, held in place by an anchor: The luxury liner is at anchor in the harbor.
19.
drag anchor, (of a vessel) to move with a current or wind because an anchor has failed to hold.
20.
drop anchor, to anchor a vessel: They dropped anchor in a bay to escape the storm.
21.
weigh anchor, to raise the anchor: We will weigh anchor at dawn.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English anker, ancre, Old English ancor, ancer, ancra (compare Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Middle Low German anker) < Latin anc(h)ora < Greek ánkȳra
before 900; Middle English anker, ancre, Old English ancor, ancer, ancra (compare Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Middle Low German anker) < Latin anc(h)ora < Greek ánkȳra
Related forms
an·chor·a·ble, adjective
an·chor·less, adjective
an·chor·like, adjective
re·an·chor, verb
un·an·chored, adjective
EXPANDwell-an·chored, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To Anchors
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
anchor
O.E. ancor, borrowed 9c. from L. ancora, from or cognate with Gk. ankyra "anchor, hook" (see ankle). A very early borrowing and said to be the only L. nautical term used in the Gmc. languages. The -ch- spelling emerged late 16c., in imitation of a misspelling of the L. word.
EXPANDThe fig. sense of "that which gives stability or security" is from late 14c. Meaning "host or presenter of a TV or radio program" is from 1965, short for anchorman (1958), which earlier meant "the last man of a tug-of-war team" (1909) and "the one who runs last in a relay race" (1934). The verb is first attested early 13c.
COLLAPSE
"Anchors are of various sizes. The largest is the SHEET-anchor; next in size are the BOWER-anchors, hung in the bows of ships; the smallest is the KEDGE-anchor." [OED]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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