anchor
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.
any similar device for holding fast or checking motion: an anchor of stones.
any device for securing a suspension or cantilever bridge at either end.
any of various devices, as a metal tie, for binding one part of a structure to another.
a person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability, or security; mainstay: Hope was his only anchor.
Also anchorman. 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.
Television. a program that attracts many viewers who are likely to stay tuned to the network for the programs that follow.
Also called anchor store . a well-known store, especially a department store, that attracts customers to the shopping center in which it is located.
Slang. automotive brakes.
Military. a key position in defense lines.
Also anchorman. Sports.
the person on a team, especially a relay team, who competes last.
the person farthest to the rear on a tug-of-war team.
to hold fast by an anchor.
to fix or fasten; affix firmly: The button was anchored to the cloth with heavy thread.
to act or serve as an anchor for: He anchored the evening news.
to drop anchor; lie or ride at anchor: The ship anchored at dawn.
to keep hold or be firmly fixed: The insect anchored fast to its prey.
Sports, Radio and Television. to act or serve as an anchor.
Idioms about anchor
at anchor, held in place by an anchor: The luxury liner is at anchor in the harbor.
drag anchor, (of a vessel) to move with a current or wind because an anchor has failed to hold.
drop anchor, to anchor a vessel: They dropped anchor in a bay to escape the storm.
weigh anchor, to raise the anchor: We will weigh anchor at dawn.
Origin of anchor
1Other words from anchor
- an·chor·a·ble, adjective
- an·chor·less, adjective
- an·chor·like, adjective
- re·an·chor, verb
- un·an·chored, adjective
- well-an·chored, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for anchor
/ (ˈæŋkə) /
any of several devices, usually of steel, attached to a vessel by a cable and dropped overboard so as to grip the bottom and restrict the vessel's movement
an object used to hold something else firmly in place: the rock provided an anchor for the rope
a source of stability or security: religion was his anchor
a metal cramp, bolt, or similar fitting, esp one used to make a connection to masonry
(as modifier): anchor bolt; anchor plate
the rear person in a tug-of-war team
short for anchorman, anchorwoman
at anchor (of a vessel) anchored
cast anchor, come to anchor or drop anchor to anchor a vessel
drag anchor See drag (def. 13)
ride at anchor to be anchored
weigh anchor to raise a vessel's anchor or (of a vessel) to have its anchor raised in preparation for departure
to use an anchor to hold (a vessel) in one place
to fasten or be fastened securely; fix or become fixed firmly
(tr) radio television to act as an anchorman on
Origin of anchor
1- See also anchors
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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