Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » hammer

hammer

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a hammer is a tool usually with a wooden handle and metal head used for pounding.

(noun)

An example of a hammer is the tool you would use to pound a nail into a wall.

Hammer is defined as to strike or pound something.

(verb)

An example of hammer is using a mallet to drive a tent stake into the ground.

See hammer in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a tool for pounding, usually consisting of a metal head fastened across one end of a handle: one end of the head may be a pronged claw for pulling nails
a thing like this tool in shape or use; specif.,
1. the mechanism that strikes the firing pin or percussion cap in a firearm
2. a device for striking a bell, gong, metal bar, etc. to make a sound
3. any of the felt-covered mallets that strike against the strings of a piano
4. a high-speed, hammering power tool fitted with a metal block or chisel, for shaping metal, breaking up paved surfaces, etc.
the malleus, one of the three bones of the middle ear
an auctioneer's gavel
a metal ball weighing usually sixteen pounds, hung from a wire handle and thrown for distance in a track-and-field competition

Origin: ME hamer < OE hamor, akin to Ger hammer, ON hamarr, crag, cliff < IE *omor-, stone hammer < base *ak-m- < a-, sharp, sharp stone > Gr akmē, point, akmōn, anvil

transitive verb

to strike repeatedly with or as with a hammer
to make or fasten with a hammer
to drive, force, or shape with or as with hammer blows: to hammer an idea into someone's head

intransitive verb

to strike repeated blows with or as with a hammer

Related Forms:

hammerer noun

See hammer in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A hand tool consisting of a handle with a head of metal or other heavy rigid material that is attached at a right angle, used for striking or pounding.
A tool or device similar in function or action to this striking tool, as:
a. The part of a gunlock that hits the primer or firing pin or explodes the percussion cap and causes the gun to fire.
b. Music One of the padded wooden pieces of a piano that strikes the strings.
c. A part of an apparatus that strikes a gong or bell, as in a clock.
Anatomy See malleus.
Sports A metal ball weighing 16 pounds (7.2 kilograms) and having a long wire or wooden handle by which it is thrown for distance in track-and-field competition.
A small mallet used by auctioneers.

verb ham·mered, ham·mer·ing, ham·mers

verb, transitive

To hit, especially repeatedly, with or as if with a hammer; pound. See Synonyms at beat.
To beat into a shape with or as if with a hammer: hammered out the dents in the fender; hammered out a contract acceptable to both sides.
To put together, fasten, or seal, particularly with nails, by hammering.
To force upon by constant repetition: hammered the information into the students' heads.
a. To defeat soundly.
b. To inflict a heavy loss or damage on.

verb, intransitive

To deal repeated blows with or as if with a hammer; pummel: “Wind hammered at us violently in gusts” (Thor Heyerdahl).
To undergo beating in the manner of a hammer: My pulse hammered.
Informal To keep at something continuously: hammered away at the problem.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English hamer

Origin: , from Old English hamor; see ak- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: