# anvil

/ˈænvəɫ/ (US) · /ˈænvəl/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anvil
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a heavy block of iron or steel with a flat top. Blacksmiths use it to rest hot metal on while they hit it with a hammer to change its shape.

For teachers: a heavy iron or steel block with a flat top and typically a pointed end, upon which hot metals are hammered and shaped. Often used as a metaphor for a passive surface that receives heavy blows.

## Examples

- The blacksmith struck the red-hot iron on the anvil.
- He placed the glowing horseshoe on the anvil to flatten the edges before cooling it in water.
- The rhythmic clang of the hammer meeting the anvil echoed through the village, signaling that the smithy was busy with the day's repairs.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the idiom 'between the hammer and the anvil' to describe being caught between two opposing forces.

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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.