1 anchor | Definition of anchor

anchor

noun, often attributive
an·​chor | \ ˈaÅ‹-kÉ™r How to pronounce anchor (audio) \

Definition of anchor

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a device usually of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom
2 : a reliable or principal support : mainstay a quarterback who has been the anchor of the team's offense
3 : something that serves to hold an object firmly a bolt-and-nut cable anchor
4 : an object shaped like a ship's anchor
5 : an anchorman (see anchorman sense 2) or anchorwoman a TV news anchor
6 : the member of a team (such as a relay team) that competes last
7 : a large business (such as a department store) that attracts customers and other businesses to a shopping center or mall
8 mountaineering : a fixed object (such as a tree or a piton) to which a climber's rope is secured
at anchor
: being anchored a ship at anchor

anchor

verb
anchored; anchoring\ ˈaÅ‹-​k(É™-​)riÅ‹ How to pronounce anchoring (audio) \

Definition of anchor (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to hold in place in the water by an anchor anchor a ship
2 : to secure firmly : fix anchor a post in concrete
3 : to act or serve as an anchor for … it is she who is anchoring the rebuilding campaign …— Gray D. Boone anchoring the evening news

intransitive verb

1 : to cast anchor
2 : to become fixed

Illustration of anchor

Illustration of anchor

Noun

anchor 1: A yachtsman's: 1 ring, 2 stock, 3 shank, 4 bill, 5 fluke, 6 arm, 7 throat, 8 crown; B fluke; C grapnel; D plow; E mushroom

In the meaning defined above

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Other Words from anchor

Noun

anchorless \ -​lÉ™s How to pronounce anchorless (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for anchor

Synonyms: Noun

anchorperson, newscaster, newsreader [chiefly British]

Synonyms: Verb

catch, clamp, fasten, fix, hitch, moor, secure, set

Antonyms: Verb

loose, loosen, unfasten, unfix, unloose, unloosen

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Examples of anchor in a Sentence

Noun

The ship dropped anchor in a secluded harbor. He described his wife as the emotional anchor of his life. a local bank that has been the financial anchor of the community

Verb

They anchored the ship in the bay. The ship anchored in the bay. a star quarterback who has anchored the team's offense for many years
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Cuomo shirts were on sale a day after the anchor threatened to shove someone down a flight of stairs for calling him Fredo, the weak brother in the Godfather films. The Economist, "What Donald Trump’s campaign swag says about his presidency," 31 Aug. 2019 While some of the news hours have a rightward bent, the anchors generally don't display the pro-Trump sycophancy that's a signature feature of Fox's opinion programs. Brian Stelter, CNN, "Trump thinks Fox News isn't doing enough to promote his presidency," 28 Aug. 2019 From the twin anchors — both are seniors — the rest of Utah’s defense flows. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, "Utah preview: Punishing lines, veteran playmakers lead Utes to another South title," 26 Aug. 2019 From the twin anchors — both are seniors — the rest of Utah’s defense flows. Jon Wilner, The Denver Post, "Pac-12 football previews: Punishing lines, veteran playmakers lead Utah to another South title," 26 Aug. 2019 The beloved co-anchor has been out since mid-April on maternity leave. Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'Today' Show Star Hoda Kotb Shares Rare Instagram Photo of Baby Hope Catherine," 24 Aug. 2019 Only a handful of other boats had dropped anchor, with no intent of negotiating a drawbridge or channel before at least July 5. Alison Kuznitz, BostonGlobe.com, "Anchored on the Charles, awaiting the big show," 3 July 2019 Back in the water off Fort Bragg, Fonts motors his boat a few hundred yards away and drops a small anchor. Nick Rahaim, SFChronicle.com, "Without abalone, spearfishing hooks North Coast anglers," 17 June 2019 In a 1987 voyage to the Antarctic, the paleoceanographer James Kennett and his crew dropped anchor in the Weddell Sea, drilled into the seabed, and extracted a vertical cylinder of sediment. Natalie Wolchover, WIRED, "As the World Warms, Clouds Could Disappear—Catastrophically," 3 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The issue with the playing surface was over a spot of temporary turf where the CFL goalpost would be anchored. Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, "Packers, Raiders play preseason game on shortened field in Winnipeg, Canada," 20 Aug. 2019 Set to be located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle that’s anchored by North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Xerox center will be the fourth of its kind in North America. Stephen Singer, courant.com, "Norwalk’s Xerox establishes center in North Carolina to advance its digital work," 14 Aug. 2019 City Commissioner Brian Sackett said one of his city’s great assets is that downtown is anchored by the SunRail station, off North Longwood Street, on the east side, and Reiter Park on the west side, just a few city blocks apart. Martin E. Comas, orlandosentinel.com, "Longwood weighs moving City Hall, police station from historic downtown to lure development," 13 Aug. 2019 The narrative is anchored around the four seasons, and the main draw is watching the main character use her family’s garden to fall back into her ancestral rhythms and live more simply. Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, "Obscure food films worth seeking out," 22 July 2019 Stena Bulk, the ship’s owner, said on Sunday that a request to the authorities at the port of Bandar Abbas — where the vessel is anchored — to visit the 23 crew members had been acknowledged. Alex Morales, Time, "U.K. Seeks to Ease Tensions in Persian Gulf After Iran Seizes Oil Tanker," 21 July 2019 Its powder blue entry accesses the interior, which is anchored by an open-concept great room under skylights and clerestories. Jack Flemming, latimes.com, "‘South Park’ producer Eric Stough swaps spots in Westchester," 10 July 2019 The Houston show was anchored by Houston native Michael Strahan, entertainment anchor Lara Spencer and weather anchor Ginger Zee. Marcy De Luna, Houston Chronicle, "All the Houston things highlighted on Good Morning America's broadcast from Discovery Green," 10 July 2019 And while most luxury initiatives are anchored in exclusivity, the goal of Airbnb Luxe appears to be inclusivity. Carrie Goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Airbnb Just Launched Luxe—Making Castles, Villas, & More Available For Rent Worldwide," 27 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anchor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of anchor

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for anchor

Noun and Verb

Middle English ancre, from Old English ancor, from Latin anchora, from Greek ankyra; akin to Old English anga hook — more at angle

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