Anchor Definition
ăngkər
anchored, anchoring, anchors
noun
anchors
A heavy object attached to a vessel by a cable, rope, or chain and dropped into the water to keep the vessel in place either by its weight or by its flukes, which grip the bottom.
American Heritage
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.
Webster's New World
A rigid point of support, as for securing a rope.
American Heritage
Any device that holds something else secure.
Webster's New World
A source of security or stability.
American Heritage
verb
anchored, anchoring, anchors
To secure (a vessel) with an anchor.
American Heritage
To keep from drifting, giving way, etc., by or as by an anchor.
Webster's New World
To lower the anchor overboard so as to keep from drifting.
Webster's New World
To secure with a fastener or similar device.
Bolts anchoring the deck to the house.
American Heritage
To serve as the end person for (a tug-of-war team)
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- cast anchor
- drop anchor
- ground
- foul the anchor
- lay anchor
- heave the hook
- bring a ship in
- berth
- moor
- tie-up
- make port
- carry out the anchor
- attach
- tie
- secure
adjective
Designating the final leg, or stage, of a relay race.
Webster's New World
idiom
at anchor
- anchored
Webster's New World
drop anchor
- to lower the anchor overboard
- to stay or settle (in a place)
Webster's New World
drag anchor
- to drift because of the failure of the anchor to hold
- to lose ground; slip or fail
Webster's New World
ride at anchor
- to be anchored
Webster's New World
weigh anchor
- to hoist a ship's anchor off the bottom preparatory to sailing
- to leave; go away
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Anchor
- at anchor
- drop anchor
- drag anchor
- ride at anchor
- weigh anchor
Origin of Anchor
-
Middle English anker, Old English ancor, from Latin ancora, from (cognate with) Ancient Greek ἄγκυρα (ankura), from Proto-Indo-European *ang- (“corner, hirn”). The modern spelling is a sixteenth-century modification to better represent the Latin misspelling anchora.
From Wiktionary
Middle English anker, ancher from Old English ancor from Latin ancora, anchora from Greek ankura
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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