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Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

anchor

/ˈæŋkɚ/

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What does anchor mean?

noun

  1. A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.
  2. An iron device so shaped as to grip the bottom and hold a vessel at her berth by the chain or rope attached.
  3. The combined anchoring gear (anchor, rode, bill/peak and fittings such as bitts, cat, and windlass.)
More meanings (28)

noun

  1. Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldic charge.
  2. 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.
  3. A marked point in a document that can be the target of a hyperlink.
  4. 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.
  5. An anchorman or anchorwoman.
  6. The final runner in a relay race.
  7. A point that is touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot.
  8. A superstore or other facility that serves as a focus to bring customers into an area.
  9. (figuratively) That which gives stability or security.
  10. A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
  11. A screw anchor.
  12. 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.
  13. One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges.
  14. One of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
  15. The thirty-fifth Lenormand card.
  16. (slang) The brake of a vehicle.
  17. A defensive player, especially one who counters the opposition's best offensive player.
  18. A batter who remains in for a long time.
  19. A device for attaching a climber at the top of a climb, such as a chain or ring or a natural feature.
  20. Alternative form of anker.
  21. (obsolete) An anchorite or anchoress.

verb

  1. To connect an object, especially a ship or a boat, to a fixed point.
  2. To cast anchor; to come to anchor.
  3. To stop; to fix or rest.
  4. To provide emotional stability for a person in distress.
  5. To perform as an anchorman or anchorwoman.
  6. To be stuck; to be unable to move away from a position.

proper noun

  1. A male given name.
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈæŋkɚ/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The vessel was slowly rising and now the anchor was beyond the blacks who faced me and several feet above their heads.
Edgar Rice BurroughsThe gods of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #64
The anchor had scarcely caught the sandy bottom when five hundred boats surrounded the Atlanta, and the steamer was taken by assault.
Jules VerneFrom the Earth to the moon; and, round the moonProject Gutenberg ebook #83
More book examples (3)
Every root is an anchor, over which he rests with grateful interest, and becomes sufficiently calm to feel the joy of living.
John MuirSteep TrailsProject Gutenberg ebook #326
On water the practice is to anchor a floating harbour at one end, leaving the structure to swing round with the wind.
Frederick Arthur Ambrose TalbotAeroplanes and Dirigibles of WarProject Gutenberg ebook #793
Then the business of “getting the anchor” and securing it afterwards is unduly prolonged, and made a weariness to the chief mate.
Joseph ConradThe Mirror of the SeaProject Gutenberg ebook #1058