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anchor definition

an·chor (aŋ′kər)

noun

  1. a heavy object, usually a shaped iron weight with flukes, lowered by cable or chain to the bottom of a body of water to keep a vessel from drifting
  2. any device that holds something else secure
  3. anything that gives or seems to give stability or security
  4. a person who anchors a team, newscast, etc.

Etymology: ME anker < OE ancor < L anc(h)ora < Gr ankyra, an anchor, hook < IE base *ank-, to bend > ankle

adjective

designating the final leg, or stage, of a relay race

transitive verb

  1. to keep from drifting, giving way, etc., by or as by an anchor
  2. to serve as the end person for (a tug-of-war team)
  3. to serve as the final contestant for (a relay team, bowling team, etc.)
  4. Radio, TV to serve as coordinator of the various reports and as chief reporter for (a newscast)

intransitive verb

  1. to lower the anchor overboard so as to keep from drifting
  2. to be or become fixed
anchor Idioms

at anchor

anchored

drop anchor

or cast anchor
  1. to lower the anchor overboard
  2. to stay or settle (in a place)

drag anchor

  1. to drift because of the failure of the anchor to hold
  2. to lose ground; slip or fail

ride at anchor

to be anchored: said of ships

weigh anchor

  1. to hoist a ship's anchor off the bottom preparatory to sailing
  2. to leave; go away

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

finance anchor definition - finance

anchor Synonyms

anchor

n.

  1. A device to keep a vessel from drifting

    stay, tie, cramp, killick, grapnel, kedge, bower, mooring, drag anchor, sea anchor, bow anchor, waist anchor, mushroom anchor, stockless anchor, grappling iron, hook*.

  2. Anything that holds

    support, mainstay, ballast, safeguard, stay, security, protection, hold, tie, pillar, staff, fastener, grip, defense, protection, foothold, belay.

  3. A person who coordinates a newscast

    newscaster, commentator, anchorman, anchorwoman; see reporter.

cast<strong> or </strong>drop anchor<strong>

stay, dock, stop, stopover; see anchor 1, stop 1.

weigh anchor

depart, embark, set out; see leave 1, sail 1.


anchor

v.

  1. To drop an anchor

    make port, tie up, moor, berth, bring a ship in, drop anchor, cast anchor, heave the hook*, lay anchor*, foul the anchor*, carry out the anchor*.

    Antonyms sail*, weigh anchor, set out for sea.

  2. To make fast

    tie, secure, attach; see fasten 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

anchor Usage Examples

Object

  • warship: The British began bombarding the small island from a fleet of warships anchored offshore.

Converse of object

  • weigh: He heard of the final victory just as the vessel in which he had embarked was weighing anchor in the Channel.

Adjective modifier

  • hypnotic: Simply put, a hypnotic anchor is an association to any life memory.

Modifies a noun

  • escapement: The twin fusee, eight day duration movement has anchor escapement and hour strike sounded on a bell.

Noun used with modifier

  • kedge: So, equipped with kedge anchors and cable, and adorned in their skin-tight diving gear, they set off.

Preposition: in

  • bay: You can look farther out to Long Point, past the pleasure boats anchored in the bay.

Preposition: near

  • jeep: Bubba and future games dance classes we anchored near jeep.
anchor usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"anchor." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/anchor>

APA Style

anchor. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/anchor

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