hammer

¹ham·mer

noun \ˈha-mər\

Definition of HAMMER

1

a : a hand tool consisting of a solid head set crosswise on a handle and used for pounding

b : a power tool that often substitutes a metal block or a drill for the hammerhead

2

: something that resembles a hammer in form or action: as

a : a lever with a striking head for ringing a bell or striking a gong

b (1) : an arm that strikes the cap in a percussion lock to ignite the propelling charge (2) : a part of the action of a modern gun that strikes the primer of the cartridge in firing or that strikes the firing pin to ignite the cartridge

c : malleus

d : gavel

e (1) : a padded mallet in a piano action for striking a string (2) : a hand mallet for playing on various percussion instruments (as a xylophone)

3

: a metal sphere thrown for distance in the hammer throw

4

: accelerator b

— under the hammer

: for sale at auction

Origin of HAMMER

Middle English hamer, from Old English hamor; akin to Old High German hamar hammer, and perhaps to Old Church Slavic kamen-, kamy stone, Greek akmē point, edge — more at edge

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with HAMMER

clamber, clammer, clamor, crammer, gammer, glamour, grammar, jammer, lamber, rammer, scammer, shammer, slammer, spammer, stammer, yammer

²hammer

verb

ham·meredham·mer·ing \ˈha-mər-iŋ, ˈham-riŋ\

Definition of HAMMER

intransitive verb

1

: to strike blows especially repeatedly with or as if with a hammer : pound

2

: to make repeated efforts; especially : to reiterate an opinion or attitude <the lectures all hammered away at the same points>

transitive verb

1

a : to beat, drive, or shape with repeated blows of a hammer

b : to fasten or build with a hammer

2

: to strike or drive with a force suggesting a hammer blow or repeated blows <hammered the ball over the fence> <tried to hammer me into submission>

3

: to criticize severely

— ham·mer·er \ˈha-mər-ər\ noun

Examples of HAMMER

1. He hammered the dent out of the fender.
2. The carpenters were hammering all afternoon.
3. The workers are hammering the studs to the frame.
4. The batter hammered the ball over the fence.
5. Someone tried to hammer him over the head with a club.
6. Many towns were hammered by the hurricane.
7. The typist's fingers were hammering the keys.
8. He was hammering at the door.
9. The rain hammered down on the roof.
10. The home team was hammered 9–0.

First Known Use of HAMMER

14th century

Related to HAMMER

Synonyms

beat, draw, forge, pound

Related Words

chase, planish; fashion, form, knead, model, mold, pat, work; coin, mint, stamp; abate, boast, carve, chisel, cut, grave, hew, knap, sculpt, sculpture

Near Antonyms

approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; extol (also extoll), laud, praise

Rhymes with HAMMER

clamor, crammer, glamour, rammer, scammer, spammer, stammer, yammer

ham·mer

noun \ˈham-ər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of HAMMER

: malleus

hammer

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Tool for pounding or delivering repeated blows. Hand hammers have a handle and striking head. Surfaces of hammerheads vary in size, angle of orientation to the handle (parallel or inclined), and type of face (flat or convex). Carpenters' hammers often have a claw on the head for extracting nails. Weights range from a few ounces or grams up to 15 lbs (7 kg) for hammers used in breaking stones. Steam hammers often use, in addition to gravity, a downward thrust from a steam-activated piston. Pneumatic (air-driven) hammers include the hammer drill, for rock and concrete, and the riveting hammer, for construction operations involving steel girders and plate.