anchor

Definitions

• (nautical) A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.
• (nautical) An iron device so shaped as to grip the bottom and hold a vessel at her berth by the chain or rope attached. (FM 55-501).
• (nautical) The combined anchoring gear (anchor, rode, bill/peak and fittings such as bitts, cat, and windlass.)
• (heraldiccharge) Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldic charge.
• Any instrument serving a purpose like that of a ship's anchor, such as an arrangement of timber to hold a dam fast; a device to hold the end of a bridge cable etc.; or a device used in metalworking to hold the core of a mould in place.
• (Internet) A marked point in a document that can be the target of a hyperlink.
• (television) An anchorman or anchorwoman.
• (athletics) The final runner in a relay race.
• (archery) A point that is touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot.
• (economics) A superstore or other facility that serves as a focus to bring customers into an area.
• (figurative) That which gives stability or security.
• (architecture) A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
• (architecture) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; part of the ornaments of certain mouldings. It is seen in the echinus, or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue) ornament.
• One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges.
• One of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
• (cartomancy) The thirty-fifth Lenormand card.
• (obsolete) An anchorite or anchoress.