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.
- 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.
- a well-known store, especially a department store, that attracts customers to the shopping center in which it is located.Also called anchor store.
- 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.
- 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.
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
Old English ancor, borrowed 9c. from Latin ancora “anchor,” from or cognate with Greek ankyra “anchor, hook” (see ankle). A very early borrowing and said to be the only Latin nautical term used in the Germanic languages. The -ch- form emerged late 16c., a pedantic imitation of a corrupt spelling of the Latin word. The figurative sense of “that which gives stability or security” is from late 14c. Meaning “host or presenter of a TV or radio program” is from 1965, short for anchorman.
c.1200, from anchor (n.). Related: Anchored; anchoring.