# anchor /ˈæŋkɝ/ (US) · /ˈænkɐ/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anchor Updated: 2026-04-30 ## Senses ### 1. ship's mooring tool noun · CEFR B1 a heavy metal object dropped from a boat into the water to keep it from moving. For teachers: a heavy iron or steel device designed to grip the seabed and hold a vessel in place via a chain or cable. - The captain ordered the crew to drop the anchor as they entered the bay. - The vessel struggled to maintain its position until the anchor finally caught on the rocky seabed, providing relief to the exhausted crew. ### 2. source of stability noun · CEFR B2 a person or thing that gives you a feeling of safety and stability. For teachers: a person, principle, or entity that provides emotional or situational stability and security. - Her family was her anchor during the difficult years of her medical studies. - In times of economic volatility, gold often serves as an anchor for investors seeking to preserve their capital against inflation. ### 3. news presenter noun · CEFR B2 the main person who reads the news on a television or radio programme. For teachers: the primary broadcaster in a news programme who coordinates reports and provides transitions between segments. - The news anchor introduced the reporter who was standing outside the parliament building. - The network's veteran anchor delivered the breaking news with a calm authority that reassured the viewing public during the crisis. ### 4. large store noun · CEFR C1 · Technical a very large shop in a shopping centre that attracts many customers. For teachers: a major retail store, typically a department store, that serves as the primary draw for a shopping mall. - The mall struggled to find a new tenant after the big anchor store closed down. - Developers often offer lower rent to anchor tenants because their presence is essential for attracting smaller boutique retailers to the complex. ### 5. digital link target noun · CEFR C1 · Technical a specific place in a document or website that a link points to. For teachers: a specific location within a digital document or webpage that serves as the target for a hyperlink. - Clicking the link will take you directly to the anchor at the bottom of the page. - The developer inserted an anchor tag to allow users to jump directly to the relevant section of the technical documentation. ### 6. vehicle brakes noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English a slang word for the brakes on a car or bike. For teachers: a slang term referring to the braking system of a vehicle. - He had to slam on the anchors when the cat ran into the road. - The driver hit the anchors hard as the traffic light suddenly turned red, narrowly avoiding a collision with the car in front. ### 7. to secure a boat verb · CEFR B1 to stop a boat from moving by using an anchor. For teachers: to secure a vessel to the seabed using an anchor or similar mooring device. - We decided to anchor the boat near the island for the night. - The yacht was anchored securely in the sheltered cove, protected from the rising winds of the approaching storm. ### 8. to fix firmly verb · CEFR B2 to fix something very firmly in one place so it cannot move. For teachers: to fasten or fix an object securely to a base or foundation. - The heavy shelves were anchored to the wall for safety. - The suspension bridge cables are anchored deep into the bedrock to withstand extreme tension and weather conditions. ### 9. to provide support verb · CEFR B2 to provide a strong base or support for a person or a system. For teachers: to provide a firm basis or emotional stability for a person, group, or argument. - Her calm voice helped to anchor him during the panic attack. - The professor's theory is anchored in decades of empirical research and field observations across three continents. ## Examples - The sailors dropped the anchor as they reached the bay. - The captain ordered the crew to lower the anchor once the ship was safely inside the harbor. - The vessel remained stationary despite the rising tide, as the anchor had successfully caught on the rocky seabed during the storm. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.