anchor: Meaning and Definition of

an•chor

1. 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. any device for securing a suspension or cantilever bridge at either end.
4. 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. 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. a program that attracts many viewers who are likely to stay tuned to the network for the programs that follow.
8. automotive brakes.
9. a key position in defense lines.
1. the person on a team, esp. a relay team, who competes last.
2. the person farthest to the rear on a tug-of-war team.
11. held in place by an anchor: The luxury liner is at anchor in the harbor.
12. (of a vessel) to move with a current or wind because an anchor has failed to hold.
13. to anchor a vessel: They dropped anchor in a bay to escape the storm.
14. to raise the anchor: We will weigh anchor at dawn.

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

1. to drop anchor; lie or ride at anchor: The ship anchored at dawn.
2. to keep hold or be firmly fixed: The insect anchored fast to its prey.
3. to act or serve as an anchor.