: 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
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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Noun
Even anchors, waders, fishing gear, life jackets and floaties can introduce the species.—Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Some anchors grappled with addressing yet another mass shooting, as well as the 44th school shooting this year, per CNN.—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
By anchoring a significant part of its growth strategy in Africa, the league is signalling that the continent is not just a side market but a core pillar of MMA’s global future.—Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 The oceanfront property, built in 2010, hews to British Colonial design, with columns anchoring the front and back of the residence, verandas wrapping all the way around, and a central two-story atrium that lets in fresh air.—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anchor
Word History
Etymology
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
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
: a device usually of metal that is attached to a boat or ship by a cable and that when thrown overboard digs into the earth and holds the boat or ship in place
2
: something that serves to hold an object firmly or that gives a feeling of stability
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