n. & v.
--n.
1. a heavy metal weight used to moor a ship to the sea-bottom or a balloon to the ground.
2 a thing affording stability.
3 a source of confidence.
--v.
1. tr. secure (a ship or balloon) by means of an anchor.
2 tr. fix firmly.
3 intr. cast anchor.
4 intr. be moored by means of an anchor.
Phrases and idioms:
anchor-plate a heavy piece of timber or metal, e.g. as support for suspension-bridge cables. at anchor moored by means of an anchor. cast (or come to) anchor let the anchor down. weigh anchor take the anchor up.
Etymology: OE ancor f. L anchora f. Gk agkura