Anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα (ankura).Anchors can either be temporary or permanent. Permanent anchors are used in the creation of a mooring, and are rarely moved; a specialist service is normally needed to move or maintain them. Vessels carry one or more temporary anchors, which may be of different designs and weights.
A sea anchor is a drogue, not in contact with the seabed. It is used to control a drifting vessel, or to limit the speed of a sailing yacht running “under bare poles” in a storm.
Anchor (noun)
A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.
Anchor (noun)
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).
Anchor (noun)
The combined anchoring gear (anchor, rode, bill/peak and fittings such as bitts, cat, and windlass.)
Anchor (noun)
Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldic charge.
Anchor (noun)
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.
Anchor (noun)
A marked point in a document that can be the target of a hyperlink.
Anchor (noun)
An anchorman or anchorwoman.
Anchor (noun)
The final runner in a relay race.
Anchor (noun)
A point that is touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot.
Anchor (noun)
A superstore or other facility that serves as a focus to bring customers into an area.
Anchor (noun)
That which gives stability or security.
Anchor (noun)
A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
Anchor (noun)
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.
Anchor (noun)
One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges.
Anchor (noun)
One of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
Anchor (noun)
The thirty-fifth Lenormand card.
Anchor (noun)
An anchorite or anchoress.
Anchor (verb)
To connect an object, especially a ship or a boat, to a fixed point.
Anchor (verb)
To cast anchor; to come to anchor.
“Our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream.”
Anchor (verb)
To stop; to fix or rest.
Anchor (verb)
To provide emotional stability for a person in distress.
Anchor (verb)
To perform as an anchorman or anchorwoman.
Anchor (verb)
To be stuck; to be unable to move away from a position.
Anchorman (noun)
The main host of a television or radio program, particularly one relating to the broadcast of news.
Anchorman (noun)
The most reliable runner in a relay team, usually the one that runs last.
Anchorman (noun)
The person on a ship in charge of the anchor. 10th or 11th century
Anchorman (noun)
The last player in sequence, seated furthest to the right of the dealer.
Anchor (noun)
a heavy object attached to a cable or chain and used to moor a ship to the sea bottom, typically having a metal shank with a pair of curved, barbed flukes at one end
“the boat, no longer held fast by its anchor, swung wildly”
“an anchor chain”
Anchor (noun)
a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation
“the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe”
Anchor (noun)
a large and prestigious department store prominently sited in a new shopping centre.
Anchor (noun)
the brakes of a car
“this idiot in front slammed on his anchors at a crossing”
Anchor (noun)
an anchorman or anchorwoman
“he signed off after nineteen years as CBS news anchor”
Anchor (verb)
moor (a ship) to the sea bottom with an anchor
“we anchored in the harbour”
“the ship was anchored in the lee of the island”
Anchor (verb)
secure firmly in position
“the tail is used as a hook with which the fish anchors itself to coral”
Anchor (verb)
provide with a firm basis or foundation
“it is important that policy be anchored to some acceptable theoretical basis”
Anchor (verb)
present and coordinate (a television or radio programme)
“she anchored a television documentary series in the early 1980s”