This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Meaning Of Anchor

  1. n.
    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.
  2. n.
    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. n.
    Fig.: That which gives stability or security; that on which we place dependence for safety.
  4. n.
    An emblem of hope.
  5. n.
    A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
  6. n.
    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.
  7. n.
    One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges; also, one of the calcareous spinules of certain Holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
  8. v. t.
    To place at anchor; to secure by an anchor; as, to anchor a ship.
  9. v. t.
    To fix or fasten; to fix in a stable condition; as, to anchor the cables of a suspension bridge.
  10. v. i.
    To cast anchor; to come to anchor; as, our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream.
  11. v. i.
    To stop; to fix or rest.
  12. n.
    An anchoret.



Menu