anchor
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈæŋ.kə/
enpr: ăngʹkər
ipa: /ˈæŋ.kɚ/
rhymes: -æŋkə(ɹ)
Forms: form: anchors
form: anchour
Etymology: From Middle English anker, from Old English ancor, ancra, from Latin ancora, from (or cognate with) Ancient Greek ἄγκυρα (ánkura). The modern form is a sixteenth-century modification after the Medieval Latin spelling anchora. Doublet of ancora, anker, angora, and Ankara.
Senses: examples: text: Men that I knew around Wapatomac didn't wear high, shiny plug hats, nor yeller spring overcoats, nor carry canes with ivory heads as big as a catboat's anchor, as you might say.
ref: 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter X, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: 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).
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: The combined anchoring gear (anchor, rode, bill/peak and fittings such as bitts, cat, and windlass.)
topics: government
heraldry
hobbies
lifestyle
monarchy
nobility
politics
glosses: Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldic charge.
glosses: 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.
glosses: A marked point in a document that can be the target of a hyperlink.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: A line of code in a program which acts as a reference point for further code to be added immediately before or after, usually via copy and paste.
examples: text: Condoleezza Rice pops up on Fox to be told by the anchor: “When you invade a sovereign nation, that is a war crime.”
ref: 2022 March 17, Aditya Chakrabortty, “Western values? They enthroned the monster who is shelling Ukrainians today”, in The Guardian:
topics: broadcasting
media
television
glosses: An anchorman or anchorwoman.
topics: athletics
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: The final runner in a relay race.
topics: archery
government
hobbies
lifestyle
martial-arts
military
politics
sports
war
glosses: A point that is touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot.
examples: text: Supermarkets have also had to adjust. Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda have put a much greater emphasis on developing smaller high street stores or becoming anchors for mixed-used regeneration schemes […]
ref: 2006, Planning: For the Natural and Built Environment, numbers 1650-1666, page 15:
text: However, mall developers offer huge discounts to department stores because these anchors create traffic […]
ref: 2007, A. Sivakumar, Retail Marketing, page 102:
topics: economics
sciences
synonyms: anchor tenant
glosses: A superstore or other facility that serves as a focus to bring customers into an area.
examples: text: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrew 6:19:
glosses: That which gives stability or security.
topics: architecture
glosses: A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
glosses: A screw anchor.
topics: architecture
glosses: 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.
glosses: One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges.
glosses: One of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
topics: cartomancy
human-sciences
mysticism
philosophy
sciences
glosses: The thirty-fifth Lenormand card.
examples: text: I saw Tim look back through the rear window of the cab and prayed he wouldn't do the first thing that came into his mind and step on the anchors.
ref: 1967, Terry Carr, New Worlds of Fantasy, Ace Books, page 56:
text: [Police:] ‘… when we blow the horn, you do an emergency stop.’ So the foaf did as he was bid and, hearing an almighty horn blast stepped on the anchors. There was a most tremendous crash as the Police car ran into the back of his Austin.
ref: 2005, urban legend, The Wordsworth Book of Urban Legend, Wordsworth Editions, page 150
text: “Brake, brake, brake! You need to scrub off more speed before you enter the corner,” he explained, as I took his advice and jumped on the anchors.
ref: 2008, Gavin Haines, “Wheels on fire”, in Bournemouth Daily Echo:
glosses: The brake of a vehicle.
examples: text: Phil Foden once again demonstrated his pedigree and will push for a start, while Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips will hope he has done enough to get a chance as a defensive midfield anchor if Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson fails to recover full fitness after groin surgery.
ref: 2021 March 31, Phil McNulty, “England 2-1 Poland: What shape are Gareth Southgate's side in?”, in BBC Sport:
topics: ball-games
games
hobbies
lifestyle
soccer
sports
glosses: A defensive player, especially one who counters the opposition's best offensive player.
topics: ball-games
cricket
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A batter who remains in for a long time.
topics: climbing
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A device for attaching a climber at the top of a climb, such as a chain or ring or a natural feature.
Derived terms: anchorable
anchorage
anchor baby
anchor ball
anchor bend
anchor buoy
anchoress
anchor hitch
anchorhold
anchor-hoy
anchor ice
anchorless
anchor light
anchorlike
anchor line
anchorman
anchor man
anchor nut
anchorperson
anchor point
anchor pylon
anchor ring
anchor's aweigh
anchor seine
anchor shot
anchorsmith
anchor space
anchor store
anchor tenant
anchor worm
at anchor
Blue Anchor
boat anchor
bower anchor
bring one's arse to an anchor
bring one's arse to anchor
bring one's ass to an anchor
bring one's ass to anchor
coanchor
come to anchor
crown and anchor
drift anchor
drogue anchor
drop anchor
foul anchor
fouled anchor
ice anchor
lay an anchor to the windward
midfield anchor
mushroom anchor
news anchor
rail anchor
rond anchor
rond-anchor
screw anchor
sea anchor
sheet anchor
swallow the anchor
swing at anchor
trust anchor
w-anchor
weather anchor
weigh anchor