anchor
heavy device holding a boat
A heavy metal object on a rope or chain that you drop into the water to stop a boat from moving.
the anchor of [a boat/ship]
- The storm was so strong that the ship's anchor began to drag along the seabed.
- They dropped the anchor a few hundred meters from the beach and jumped into the clear water.
- The fishing boat remained steady all night thanks to a heavy anchor.
- Divers found an old iron anchor covered in coral on the ocean floor.
- Before we went to sleep, the captain checked that the anchor was holding firmly.
- The boat has a big metal anchor at the front.
- We drop the anchor when we want to stop the boat.
- The ship stayed in one place because the anchor was in the water.
- They pulled up the anchor and started to move again.
- He cleaned the anchor before putting it back on the boat.
fix a boat with an anchor
To stop a boat or ship from moving by putting its anchor in the water.
to anchor [a boat/ship] [off a place]
- We decided to anchor the yacht just outside the harbor for the night.
- Several fishing boats were anchored close together near the rocks.
- The captain anchored the ship a safe distance from the shore.
- They anchored in a quiet bay and went swimming.
- We anchored about fifty meters from the pier to avoid the shallow water.
- They anchor the boat near the beach.
- The ship is anchored in the bay.
- We will anchor here and sleep on the boat.
- He carefully anchors the small boat before he jumps into the water.
- Many boats are anchored close to the island.
person or thing giving stability
Someone or something that makes you feel safe and stable in your life.
[someone/something] is an anchor for [someone]
- After his father died, his grandmother became the emotional anchor of the family.
- Her daily routine is an anchor that helps her manage her anxiety.
- The local school is an anchor for the whole community.
- In tough times, close friends can be a powerful anchor.
- His faith acted as an anchor during the long months of treatment.
- My wife is an anchor in my life.
- For many people, family is an anchor.
- This job is my anchor when I feel stressed.
- Good friends can be an anchor when you have problems.
- Exercise is an anchor that helps me stay calm.
main TV or radio news presenter
The main person who reads and presents the news on TV or radio.
the anchor of [a news program/show]
- The network's top news anchor is leaving after twenty years on air.
- She works as the morning anchor for a local television station.
- During the breaking news, the anchor stayed calm and professional.
- Viewers trust the anchor to explain complex political stories.
- The anchor introduced a live report from the scene of the earthquake.
- He is a famous news anchor.
- The anchor reads the news every night at six.
- She became the main anchor of the show last year.
- The anchor asked the reporter a question.
- I watch the same anchor every morning on TV.
present a TV or radio program
To be the main person who presents a TV or radio show, especially a news show.
to anchor [a program/show/broadcast]
- She currently anchors the network's flagship evening news program.
- The show was anchored by a well-known journalist during the election.
- He has anchored sports broadcasts for over a decade.
- They asked her to anchor the live coverage of the ceremony.
- A guest will anchor the program while the regular host is on vacation.
- She will anchor the news tonight.
- He often anchors special live shows.
- The show is anchored by two people.
- A famous reporter will anchor the program today.
- He started to anchor the morning news last year.
fix or base something firmly
To keep something in a firm position, or to base an idea or plan strongly on something so it is stable.
to anchor [something] in/to/on [something]
- Good policies should be anchored in solid evidence, not just opinion.
- The new regulations are anchored in the lessons learned from past accidents.
- The sculpture was anchored to the floor with steel bolts.
- Their identity is deeply anchored in local culture and traditions.
- The campaign aims to anchor people's expectations of prices at a realistic level.
- The building is anchored to the ground with strong metal bars.
- Her ideas are anchored in real experience.
- We need to anchor this plan in facts, not feelings.
- The table is anchored to the wall so it does not move.
- His life is anchored in his family and his work.
key or last member of a team
In sports, the most important player, often the last runner in a race or the player who gives the team strength and stability.
the anchor of [a team/relay]
- She ran the anchor leg for the 4x100 meter relay team.
- As the anchor of the team, he often plays in the most critical moments.
- The coach chose their most experienced swimmer as the relay anchor.
- He has been the defensive anchor of the club for ten years.
- Their star player serves as the emotional anchor of the squad.
- He is the anchor of the basketball team.
- She will run the anchor leg in the race.
- Our best swimmer is the relay anchor.
- The coach picked him as the team anchor.
- She is the anchor of the defense.
- Base: anchor
- Plural: anchors
- Base: anchor
- 3rd Person Singular: anchors
- Present Participle: anchoring
- Past: anchored
an anchor around someone's neck
6a heavy limiting burden
A serious problem or responsibility that makes it hard for someone to move forward in life or feel free.
- The old building has become an anchor around the company's neck, costing more money every year.
- For many graduates, student debt feels like an anchor around their neck.
- He worries that caring for the farm will be an anchor around his neck, stopping him from traveling.
anchor point
3fixed secure attachment point
A strong fixed place where you attach something, for example a rope, cable, or safety line, so it will not move.
- Climbers must always check that their anchor points are secure before moving up.
- The safety harness clips onto an anchor point on the wall.
- We need to choose a stronger anchor point for the cables.
anchor store
4main large store in a mall
The big main store in a shopping center that many people come to visit, which helps smaller stores get customers.
- The closure of the anchor store caused a big drop in traffic for the smaller shops.
- Developers hope a new anchor store will revive the struggling mall.
- Without a strong anchor store, it's hard for a shopping center to succeed.
anchor tenant
5main long-term business tenant
The biggest or most important store or company that rents space in a shopping center or building, and helps bring many customers.
- A major supermarket will be the anchor tenant in the new shopping complex.
- Losing its anchor tenant left the mall with many empty shops.
- Developers are negotiating with a cinema chain to serve as an anchor tenant.
at anchor
2held in place by anchor
Describes a boat or ship that is stopped and held in place by its anchor.
- Several yachts were lying at anchor just off the coast.
- The ship spent the night at anchor in the harbor.
- We could see a cruise ship at anchor in the distance.
drop anchor
1let a boat's anchor down
To put a boat's anchor into the water so the boat stops moving.
- We decided to drop anchor in a quiet bay and swim for an hour.
- The captain dropped anchor just outside the harbor to wait for permission to enter.
- As the sun set, dozens of small boats dropped anchor near the beach.
weigh anchor
1raise a boat's anchor
To lift a boat's anchor out of the water so the boat can start moving again.
- At first light, the crew weighed anchor and headed for open sea.
- The ship will weigh anchor at dawn and continue its journey.
- Once the storm passed, they weighed anchor and left the bay.
weigh anchor
2raise a ship’s anchor
To lift the heavy metal anchor from the sea so the ship can start to move.
- They weighed anchor at sunrise and set sail for the islands.
- Once the fog lifted, the captain ordered the crew to weigh anchor.
- We will weigh anchor tomorrow if the weather improves.