anchor

/ˈæŋ.kə/
/ˈæŋ.kɚ/
/ˈæŋ.kɚ/
/ˈæŋ.kɚ/

noun

  1. A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.

  2. An iron device so shaped as to grip the bottom and hold a vessel at her berth by the chain or rope attached. (FM 55-501).

  3. The combined anchoring gear (anchor, rode, bill/peak and fittings such as bitts, cat, and windlass.)

  4. Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldic charge.

  5. Any instrument serving a purpose like that of a ship's anchor, such as an arrangement of timber to hold a dam fast; a device to hold the end of a bridge cable etc.; or a device used in metalworking to hold the core of a mould in place.

  6. A marked point in a document that can be the target of a hyperlink.

  7. An anchorman or anchorwoman.

  8. The final runner in a relay race.

  9. A point that is touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot.

  10. A superstore or other facility that serves as a focus to bring customers into an area.

  11. That which gives stability or security.

  12. A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.

  13. Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; part of the ornaments of certain mouldings. It is seen in the echinus, or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue) ornament.

  14. One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges.

  15. One of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of Synapta.

  16. The thirty-fifth Lenormand card.

  17. An anchorite or anchoress.

Synonyms: anchor tenant

verb

  1. To connect an object, especially a ship or a boat, to a fixed point.

  2. To cast anchor; to come to anchor.

    "Our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream."

  3. To stop; to fix or rest.

  4. To provide emotional stability for a person in distress.

  5. To perform as an anchorman or anchorwoman.

  6. To be stuck; to be unable to move away from a position.

Synonyms: bog down, embog, enmire, drop anchor, affix, fix, host, present, support, cease, hold

noun

  1. A measure of wine or spirit equal to 10 gallons; a barrel of this capacity.