anchor

UK: /ˈæŋkə^r/ US: /ˈæŋkɚ/ ,(ang′kər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

an•chor /ˈæŋkɚ/   n. 

[countable]
1. Nautical, Naval Terms a heavy device attached by a cable to a vessel and cast overboard to keep the vessel from drifting by becoming secured to the bottom.
2. a person or thing that can be relied on for support or security:
   In times of distress she was our anchor.
3. Show Business the main broadcaster on a program of news, sports, etc.
4. Sport
   • a person in a relay race who competes last.

v. 

5. to hold fast by or as if by an anchor:
   [~ + object] anchored the ship in the harbor.
6. Nautical to cast anchor:
   [no object] The ship anchored in the harbor.
7. to act or serve as a radio or television anchor (for): [~ + object]
   She anchored the evening news.
   [no object]
   She anchored for seven years.

Idioms

8. Idioms, Naval Terms at anchor, kept in place by an anchor:
   a ship at anchor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

an•chor  (ang′kər), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms any of various devices dropped by a chain, cable, or rope to the bottom of a body of water for preventing or restricting the motion of a vessel or other floating object, typically having broad, hooklike arms that bury themselves in the bottom to provide a firm hold.
2. any similar device for holding fast or checking motion:
   an anchor of stones.
3. Civil Engineering any device for securing a suspension or cantilever bridge at either end.
4. Civil Engineering, Building any of various devices, as a metal tie, for binding one part of a structure to another.
5. a person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability, or security;
   mainstay:
   Hope was his only anchor.
6. Show Business [Radio and Television.] a person who is the main broadcaster on a program of news, sports, etc., and who usually also serves as coordinator of all participating broadcasters during the program;
   anchorman or anchorwoman;
   anchorperson.
7. Show Business [Television.] a program that attracts many viewers who are likely to stay tuned to the network for the programs that follow.
8. Business a well-known store, esp. a department store, that attracts customers to the shopping center in which it is located.
9. Slang Terms automotive brakes.
10. Military a key position in defense lines.
11. Sport Also, anchorman. 
    • the person on a team, esp. a relay team, who competes last.
    • the person farthest to the rear on a tug-of-war team.
12. Nautical at anchor, held in place by an anchor:
    The luxury liner is at anchor in the harbor.
13. Nautical, Naval Terms drag anchor, (of a vessel) to move with a current or wind because an anchor has failed to hold.
14. Nautical drop anchor, to anchor a vessel:
    They dropped anchor in a bay to escape the storm.
15. Nautical weigh anchor, to raise the anchor:
    We will weigh anchor at dawn.

v.t. 

16. to hold fast by an anchor.
17. to fix or fasten;
    affix firmly:
    The button was anchored to the cloth with heavy thread.
18. to act or serve as an anchor for:
    He anchored the evening news.

v.i. 

19. Nautical to drop anchor;
    lie or ride at anchor:
    The ship anchored at dawn.
20. to keep hold or be firmly fixed:
    The insect anchored fast to its prey.
21. Show Business [Sports, Radio and Television.] to act or serve as an anchor.

• Greek ánkȳra
• Latin anc(h)ora
• Middle English anker, ancre, Old English ancor, ancer, ancra (compare Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Middle Low German anker) bef. 900

an′chor•a•ble, adj. 
an′chor•less, adj. 
an′chor•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

anchor / ˈæŋkə/ noun

1. any of several devices, usually of steel, attached to a vessel by a cable and dropped overboard so as to grip the bottom and restrict the vessel's movement
2. an object used to hold something else firmly in place: the rock provided an anchor for the rope
3. a source of stability or security
4. short for anchorman, anchorwoman
5. cast anchor, come to anchor, drop anchor ⇒ to anchor a vessel
6. drag anchor ⇒
   See drag13
7. ride at anchor ⇒ to be anchored

verb

1. to use an anchor to hold (a vessel) in one place
2. to fasten or be fastened securely; fix or become fixed firmly

Etymology: Old English ancor, from Latin ancora, from Greek ankura; related to Greek ankos bend; compare Latin uncus bent, hooked