anchor

noun

1. A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.

   “Men that I knew around Wapatomac didn't wear high, shiny plug hats, nor yeller spring overcoats, nor carry canes with ivory heads as big as a catboat's anchor, as you might say.”

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.)
4. Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldic charge.
5. 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.
6. (Internet)A marked point in a document that can be the target of a hyperlink.
7. 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.
8. An anchorman or anchorwoman.

   “Condoleezza Rice pops up on Fox to be told by the anchor: “When you invade a sovereign nation, that is a war crime.””

9. The final runner in a relay race.
10. A point that is touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot.
11. A superstore or other facility that serves as a focus to bring customers into an area.

    “Supermarkets have also had to adjust. Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda have put a much greater emphasis on developing smaller high street stores or becoming anchors for mixed-used regeneration schemes […]”

    “However, mall developers offer huge discounts to department stores because these anchors create traffic […]”

12. (figuratively)That which gives stability or security.

    “which hope we have as an anchor of the soul”

13. A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
14. (US)A screw anchor.
15. 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.
16. One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges.
17. One of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
18. The thirty-fifth Lenormand card.
19. (slang)The brake of a vehicle.

    “I saw Tim look back through the rear window of the cab and prayed he wouldn't do the first thing that came into his mind and step on the anchors.”

    “[Police:] ‘… when we blow the horn, you do an emergency stop.’ So the foaf did as he was bid and, hearing an almighty horn blast stepped on the anchors. There was a most tremendous crash as the Police car ran into the back of his Austin.”

    ““Brake, brake, brake! You need to scrub off more speed before you enter the corner,” he explained, as I took his advice and jumped on the anchors.”

20. A defensive player, especially one who counters the opposition's best offensive player.

    “Phil Foden once again demonstrated his pedigree and will push for a start, while Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips will hope he has done enough to get a chance as a defensive midfield anchor if Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson fails to recover full fitness after groin surgery.”

21. A batter who remains in for a long time.
22. A device for attaching a climber at the top of a climb, such as a chain or ring or a natural feature.
23. (obsolete)An anchorite or anchoress.

    “Nor earth to me giue foode, nor heauen light, / Sport and repoſe lock from me day and night, / To deſperation turn my truſt and hope, / And Anchors cheere in priſon be my ſcope, […]”

24. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of anker.

verb

1. To connect an object, especially a ship or a boat, to a fixed point.
2. To cast anchor; to come to anchor.

   “Our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream.”

3. To stop; to fix or rest.

   “My invention […] anchors on Isabel.”

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.

   “It is an incredible tale and one that makes no sense on so many levels. Only two years ago Leicester were anchored to the foot of the Premier League and staring at the prospect of relegation to the Championship under Nigel Pearson.”

name

1. A male given name.