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
How to use anchor in a sentence
Unfortunately, popular understandings of the bigot remain anchored in an earlier time.
This mid-election cycle enthusiasm is anchored in recent polling and other factors, Republican strategists and pollsters say.
Yes Republicans, Tell Us Again How You Hate Obamacare | Jamelle Bouie | January 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTArticulating a strong pro-growth message that is anchored in the bedrock of a strong education would be a nice place to start.
An Inconvenient Truth: Neither Party Is Serious About Diversity | Ron Christie | December 6, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIDF's Military Advocate General: legality of training is anchored in principles of 'belligerent occupation.'
Ben-Gurion kept his word, and the Orthodox monopoly was anchored in other developments, as well.
Breaking Down Israel’s Orthodox Monopoly, One Rabbi at a Time | Brent E. Sasley | May 31, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The ship has anchored in the province of Ylocos, eighty leguas from here, as the weather does not permit it to come to this port.
Anchored at Imbros when I got a cable asking me what forces I shall need to carry right through to a finish.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonAt half-past five o'clock we anchored with our companions near the usual place.
It looked so rich and beautiful that the ships anchored once more, and the admiral ordered the sick men to be taken on shore.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin | Mary Hazelton WadeAnd the following afternoon we anchored at about half a mile from the sandy beach of Careening Bay.
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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