anchor

/'æɳkə/

Thân thiện

The news anchor reports the evening broadcast from behind a desk.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A heavy device attached to a vessel by a cable or chain, used to moor it to the sea bottom: A physical object, typically made of metal, designed to grip the seabed and hold a boat or ship in place.
   • A central cohesive source of support and stability: A person or thing that provides a foundation of strength, reliability, or security.
   • A television news presenter who coordinates a broadcast: The primary host of a news program, responsible for introducing reports and guiding the broadcast.

2. Verb:

   • To secure a vessel using an anchor: To lower an anchor to hold a boat or ship in a specific location.
   • To fix firmly in position: To fasten or secure something so it cannot move easily.
   • To serve as a central source of stability or support: To act as the main stabilizing or unifying element for a group or activity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The captain dropped the anchor in the quiet bay. (The captain lowered the heavy device to hold the ship in place.)
  • During the crisis, she was the family's emotional anchor. (She was the central source of stability for her family.)
  • The veteran anchor delivered the evening news with authority. (The experienced news presenter hosted the broadcast.)

• Verb:

  • We will anchor the yacht offshore for the night. (We will secure the yacht in place with an anchor.)
  • Anchor the bookshelf to the wall to prevent it from tipping. (Fix the bookshelf firmly to the wall.)
  • His calm demeanor helped to anchor the team during the difficult project. (His steady behavior provided stability for the team.)

Advanced Usage

• "To weigh anchor": To lift the anchor from the seabed in preparation for departure.

  • At dawn, the ship weighed anchor and set sail. (The ship lifted its anchor and began its journey.)

• "To be/lie/ride at anchor": To be secured in a location by an anchor.

  • Several fishing boats were lying at anchor in the harbor. (Several boats were moored in the harbor using their anchors.)

• "To anchor one's hopes in/on something": To base one's hopes or expectations firmly on something.

  • They anchored their hopes on a successful product launch. (They based their hopes firmly on the launch.)

Variants and Related Words

• Anchorage (n): A place suitable for anchoring a vessel; a source of security.
  • The bay provided a safe anchorage for the fleet.
• Anchorperson (n): A person who anchors a news broadcast.
  • The anchorperson introduced the field correspondent's report.

Synonyms

• Noun (device): Mooring, kedge.
• Noun (support): Mainstay, cornerstone, linchpin, bulwark.
• Verb (secure): Moor, fasten, tether, affix.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Anchor down: To secure something firmly; to settle something definitively.
  • Let's anchor down the details of the contract before we proceed. (Let's settle the contract details firmly.)

Related Idioms

• "To swallow the anchor": (Nautical slang) To retire from life at sea.

  • After forty years as a sailor, he decided to swallow the anchor and live on land. (He decided to retire from seafaring.)

• "An anchor to windward": A precautionary measure taken in advance for security.

  • Saving money is an anchor to windward for future emergencies. (Saving is a prudent measure for future security.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. a television reporter who coordinates a broadcast to which several correspondents contribute
2. a central cohesive source of support and stability
   • faith is his anchor
   • the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money
   • he is the linchpin of this firm
3. a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving

Verb

1. secure a vessel with an anchor
   • We anchored at Baltimore
2. fix firmly and stably
   • anchor the lamppost in concrete

Từ đồng nghĩa

• anchorman
• anchorperson
• mainstay
• keystone
• backbone
• linchpin
• lynchpin
• ground tackle
• cast anchor
• drop anchor
• ground