(n.) A iron instrument which is attached to a ship by a cable
(rope or chain), and which, being cast overboard, lays hold of the
earth by a fluke or hook and thus retains the ship in a particular
station.
(n.) Any instrument or contrivance serving a purpose like that
of a ship's anchor, as an arrangement of timber to hold a dam fast; a
contrivance to hold the end of a bridge cable, or other similar part; a
contrivance used by founders to hold the core of a mold in place.
(n.) Fig.: That which gives stability or security; that on which
we place dependence for safety.
(n.) An emblem of hope.
(n.) A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
(n.) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; --
a part of the ornaments of certain moldings. It is seen in the echinus,
or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue) ornament.
(n.) One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges; also,
one of the calcareous spinules of certain Holothurians, as in species
of Synapta.
(v. t.) To place at anchor; to secure by an anchor; as, to
anchor a ship.
(v. t.) To fix or fasten; to fix in a stable condition; as, to
anchor the cables of a suspension bridge.
(v. i.) To cast anchor; to come to anchor; as, our ship (or the
captain) anchored in the stream.
(v. i.) To stop; to fix or rest.
(n.) An anchoret.
