anchor

[ ang-ker ]

/ ˈæŋ kər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: anchor / anchored / anchoring on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

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.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!

Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it’s and its in this crafty quiz!

Question 1 of 12

On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.

it's

its

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for 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

First recorded before 900; Middle English anker, ancre, Old English ancor, ancer, ancra (compare Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Middle Low German anker ), from Latin anc(h)ora, from Greek ánkȳra

OTHER WORDS FROM anchor

an·chor·a·ble, adjectivean·chor·less, adjectivean·chor·like, adjectivere·an·chor, verb

un·an·chored, adjectivewell-anchored, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for anchor

Search engines favor smooth growth, a structured anchor list and a natural-looking link profile.
Crowd Marketing: Fears, perks and a comprehensive Guide|Sponsored Content: Natural Links|November 20, 2020|Search Engine Land
Coil of disconcertingly abraded rope donated by a buddy who actually understands knots and anchors—check.
On Sleeping in the Largest Organism on Earth|Leath Tonino|November 19, 2020|Outside Online
Work on the anchors, experiment with different types of content and always make sure you create unique content.
Top strategies behind link building success|Tereza Litsa|November 16, 2020|Search Engine Watch
There are many interesting companies up there, but it’s not reflective of the fact that Amazon and Microsoft are anchor companies.
Why so many valuable startups seem like the dumbest idea at first|Lucinda Shen|November 13, 2020|Fortune

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz resigned recently after admitting he’d sexted with a local news anchor who is not his wife.
Cal Cunningham lost. Katie Hill resigned. Are we still put off by sex scandals?|Lisa Bonos|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Unfortunately, popular understandings of the bigot remain anchored in an earlier time.
Why Bigotry Persists|Stephen Eric Bronner|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Articulating 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|DAILY BEAST
IDF's Military Advocate General: legality of training is anchored in principles of 'belligerent occupation.'
Syrian Baby Born in Israeli Hospital|Orly Halpern|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
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|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.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
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 Hamilton
At half-past five o'clock we anchored with our companions near the usual place.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
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 Wade
And the following afternoon we anchored at about half a mile from the sandy beach of Careening Bay.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King

British Dictionary definitions for anchor

anchor

/ (ˈæŋkə) /

noun

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 placethe rock provided an anchor for the rope

a source of stability or securityreligion 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

verb

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

Word Origin for anchor

Old English ancor, from Latin ancora, from Greek ankura; related to Greek ankos bend; compare Latin uncus bent, hooked

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

anchor