anchor
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1an·chor
noun, often attributive \ˈaŋ-kər\Definition of ANCHOR
1
: a device usually of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom
2
: a reliable or principal support : mainstay
3
: something that serves to hold an object firmly
4
: an object shaped like a ship's anchor
5
: an anchorman or anchorwoman
6
: the member of a team (as a relay team) that competes last
7
: a large business (as a department store) that attracts customers and other businesses to a shopping center or mall
8
: a fixed object (as a tree or a piton) to which a climber's rope is secured
— an·chor·less \-ləs\ adjective
— at anchor
: being anchored
See Examples of ANCHOR
- The ship dropped anchor in a secluded harbor.
- He described his wife as the emotional anchor of his life.
- a local bank that has been the financial anchor of the community
Illustration of ANCHOR
Origin of ANCHOR
Middle English ancre, from Old English ancor, from Latin anchora, from Greek ankyra; akin to Old English anga hook — more at angle
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to ANCHOR
- Synonyms
- anchorperson, newscaster, newsreader [chiefly British]
2anchor
verban·choredan·chor·ing\-k(ə-)riŋ\
Definition of ANCHOR
transitive verb
1
: to hold in place in the water by an anchor <anchor a ship>
2
: to secure firmly : fix <anchor a post in concrete>
3
: to act or serve as an anchor for <it is she who is anchoring the rebuilding campaign — G. D. Boone> <anchoring the evening news>
intransitive verb
1
: to cast anchor
2
: to become fixed
Examples of ANCHOR
- They anchored the ship in the bay.
- The ship anchored in the bay.
- a star quarterback who has anchored the team's offense for many years
First Known Use of ANCHOR
13th century
an·chor
transitive verb \ˈaŋ-kər\ (Medical Dictionary)an·chored; an·chor·ing \-k(ə-)riŋ\ (audio pronunciation)
Medical Definition of ANCHOR
: to relate psychologically to a point or frame of reference (as to a person, a situation, an object, or a conceptual scheme)
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