anchor Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
    ground tackle.
  2. noun a central cohesive source of support and stability
    mainstay; backbone; linchpin; lynchpin; keystone.
    • faith is his anchor
    • the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money
    • he is the linchpin of this firm
  3. noun a television reporter who coordinates a broadcast to which several correspondents contribute
    anchorman; anchorperson.
  4. verb fix firmly and stably
    ground.
    • anchor the lamppost in concrete
  5. verb secure a vessel with an anchor
    cast anchor; drop anchor.
    • We anchored at Baltimore

WordNet

An"chor noun
Etymology
OE. anker, AS. ancor, oncer, L. ancora, sometimes spelt anchora, fr. Gr. , akin to E. angle: cf. F. ancre. See Angle, n.
Definitions
  1. A iron instrument which is attached to a ship by a cable (rope or chain), and which, being cast overboard, lays hold of the earth by a fluke or hook and thus retains the ship in a particular station. ✍ The common anchor consists of a straight bar called a shank, having at one end a transverse bar called a stock, above which is a ring for the cable, and at the other end the crown, from which branch out two or more arms with flukes, forming with the shank a suitable angle to enter the ground. Formerly the largest and strongest anchor was the sheet anchor (hence, Fig., best hope or last refuge), called also waist anchor. Now the bower and the sheet anchor are usually alike. Then came the best bower and the small bower (so called from being carried on the bows). The stream anchor is one fourth the weight of the bower anchor. Kedges or kedge anchors are light anchors used in warping.
  2. Any instrument or contrivance serving a purpose like that of a ship's anchor, as an arrangement of timber to hold a dam fast; a contrivance to hold the end of a bridge cable, or other similar part; a contrivance used by founders to hold the core of a mold in place.
  3. Fig.: That which gives stability or security; that on which we place dependence for safety.
    Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Heb. vi. 19.
  4. (Her.) An emblem of hope.
  5. (Arch.) (a) A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together. (b) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; -- a part of the ornaments of certain moldings. It is seen in the echinus, or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue) ornament.
  6. (Zoöl.) One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges; also, one of the calcareous spinules of certain Holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
An"chor transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. ancrer.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Anchored present participle & verbal noun Anchoring
Definitions
  1. To place at anchor; to secure by an anchor; as, to anchor a ship.
  2. To fix or fasten; to fix in a stable condition; as, to anchor the cables of a suspension bridge.
    Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes. Shak.
An"chor intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cast anchor; to come to anchor; as, our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream.
  2. To stop; to fix or rest.
    My invention . . . anchors on Isabel. Shak.
An"chor noun
Etymology
OE. anker, ancre, AS. ancra, fr. L. anachoreta. See Anchoret.
Definitions
  1. An anchoret. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913