anchor
anchor
an·chor
I
/ˈæŋkɚ/ noun , pl -chors [ count ]
1 : a heavy device that is attached to a boat or ship by a rope or chain and that is thrown into the water to hold the boat or ship in place
The ship dropped anchor in a secluded harbor.
Several yachts stood/sat/rode at anchor [=were held in place by an anchor] in the harbor.
The crew weighed anchor [=lifted the anchor] and prepared to sail.
2 a : a person or thing that provides strength and support
a star quarterback who has been the anchor [=the most important part] of a football team's offense for many years
He described his wife as the emotional anchor of his life.
a local bank that has been the financial anchor of the community
2 b : a large store that attracts customers and other businesses to an area (such as a shopping mall)
an anchor store
3 chiefly US : someone who reads the news on a television broadcast : an anchorman or anchorwoman
a television news anchor
————————
II
verb , -chors, -chored, -chor·ing
1 : to keep a ship or boat from moving by using an anchor
[ + obj ] They anchored the ship in the bay.
[ no obj ] The ship anchored in the bay.
2 [ + obj ] : to connect (something) to a solid base : to hold (something) firmly in place
— usually used as (be) anchored
The cables of the bridge are anchored to the hillside.
— often used figuratively with in
Her authority is anchored in more than 20 years of experience.
3 [ + obj ] : to be the strongest and most important part of (something)
a star quarterback who has anchored the team's offense for many years
4 [ + obj ] US : to read the news on (a television broadcast) : to be the anchorman or anchorwoman on (a news program)
She anchors the nightly news broadcast.
