[an.chor] n, often attrib [ME ancre, fr. OE ancor, fr. L anchora, fr. Gk ankyra; akin to OE anga hook--more at angle] (bef. 12c) 1: a device usu. of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom
2: a reliable or principal support: mainstay
3: something that serves to hold an object firmly
4: an object shaped like a ship's anchor
5: an anchorman or anchorwoman
6: the member of a team (as a relay team) that competes last 7: a large business (as a department store) that attracts customers and other businesses to a shopping center or mall -- an.chor.less adj -- at anchor : being anchored
[2]anchor vb an.chored ; an.chor.ing vt (13c) 1: to hold in place in the water by an anchor
2: to secure firmly: fix
3: to act or serve as an anchor for "it is she who is ~ing the rebuilding campaign --G. D. Boone" "~ing the evening news" ~ vi 1: to cast anchor
2: to become fixed