■ noun
1》 a tool consisting of a heavy metal head mounted at the end of a handle, used for breaking things and driving in nails.
↘an auctioneer's mallet, tapped to indicate a sale.
2》 a part of a mechanism that hits another, e.g. one exploding the charge in a gun.
3》 a heavy metal ball attached to a wire for throwing in an athletic contest.
4》 another term for malleus .
■ verb
1》 hit or beat repeatedly with or as with a ~.
↘( ~ away ) work hard and persistently.
↘( ~ something in/into ) inculcate something forcefully or repeatedly.
↘( ~ something out ) play a tune on a piano loudly and unskilfully.
↘( ~ something out ) laboriously work out the details of a plan or agreement.
2》 informal criticize or attack forcefully.
↘utterly defeat.
3》 Stock Exchange declare (someone) a defaulter.
4》 Stock Exchange beat down the price of (a stock).
Phrases
come (or go ) under the ~ be sold at an auction.
~ and tongs informal enthusiastically or vehemently: they fought ~ and tongs.
Derivatives
~ing noun
~less adjective
Origin
OE hamor , hamer , of Gmc origin.