anchor
/ˈæŋkə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæŋkər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈaŋ-kər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈæŋ.kər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæŋ.kɚ/ (ame, ipa)
anchor — noun
1. a heavy metal piece lowered on a rope, chain, or cable to stop a boat from drift
a heavy metal piece lowered on a rope, chain, or cable to stop a boat from drifting away.
At sunset, the captain dropped the anchor near Green Island before dinner.
collocation: drop the anchor
A broken anchor left the fishing boat drifting all night in rough water.
Divers checked whether the anchor was caught between two large rocks.
The chain snapped, and the anchor slid slowly across the sandy bottom.
文法句型
drop an anchor
raise the anchor
用法筆記
Usually countable. Common verbs are 'drop', 'lower', 'raise', and 'weigh'. Distinguish from verb 1, which describes the action of using this device.
常見錯誤
2. someone, or even a place or routine, that helps keep your life steady when thing
someone, or even a place or routine, that helps keep your life steady when things feel uncertain.
After his father died, Uncle Wei became the family's emotional anchor.
figurative use: emotional anchor
Her daily walk by the river is an anchor during stressful weeks.
The village school remains an anchor for families after every summer flood.
A short call with Grandma Lin was an anchor for Naomi on moving day.
- support
the broad everyday word; less strongly linked to steadiness
- mainstay
more formal; stresses being the most important source of help
- foundation
often describes the base something is built on, especially plans or systems
- lifeline
stresses rescue in a difficult situation rather than calm stability
- burden
someone or something that adds pressure instead of easing it
文法句型
be an anchor for + person
serve as an anchor during + event
用法筆記
Common in patterns such as 'be an anchor for' and 'serve as an anchor during'. It suggests lasting steadiness, not one small act of help.
常見錯誤
3. the chief presenter of a news or talk broadcast, who leads the programme and bri
the chief presenter of a news or talk broadcast, who leads the programme and brings in other speakers and reports.
Millions watched Mei Chen, the evening anchor, open the election broadcast.
collocation: evening anchor
The anchor cut to a reporter outside the burning train station.
broadcast phrase: cut to a reporter
During the storm update, the anchor repeated safety numbers every ten minutes.
Our local anchor speaks Hokkien and Mandarin during holiday specials.
- presenter
broad term for someone who leads a programme
- host
common for talk or entertainment programmes, not only news
- newscaster
focuses more on reading or delivering the news
文法句型
the evening anchor
anchor of a news show
用法筆記
Most often used for the central presenter on news or current-affairs broadcasts. Distinguish from 'reporter', who usually gathers one story in the field.
常見錯誤
4. the runner or swimmer chosen to take the last turn for a relay team.
the runner or swimmer chosen to take the last turn for a relay team.
Coach Rivera chose Aya as anchor because she finishes strongly under pressure.
pattern: choose someone as anchor
The team moved Ben to anchor for the final relay at nationals.
pattern: move someone to anchor
As anchor, Priya took the baton two meters behind the leaders.
Our swim coach saved the fastest girl for anchor in the medley.
- finisher
general sports word for the person who finishes, not only in relays
- last runner
plain description for track relays
- last swimmer
plain description for swimming relays
- lead-off runner
the teammate who starts the relay instead of ending it
文法句型
run anchor
move someone to anchor
用法筆記
Usually singular in team talk: 'be anchor' or 'run anchor'. The anchor is always the final runner or swimmer in the relay order.
常見錯誤
anchor — verb
1. to put down an anchor, or to hold a boat in one spot by using one.
to put down an anchor, or to hold a boat in one spot by using one.
The sailors anchored the boat beside Orchid Island before the rain arrived.
transitive: anchor the boat
By midnight, three yachts had anchored safely in the small bay.
intransitive: anchor in + place
Please anchor near the red buoy and wait for the fuel truck.
Strong wind kept the captain from anchoring close to the old pier.
- weigh anchor
opposite action: lift the anchor before leaving
- set sail
leave a place by boat instead of staying there
文法句型
anchor a boat
anchor in/near + place
用法筆記
Can be intransitive ('We anchored offshore') or transitive ('They anchored the boat near the pier'). Common with place phrases such as 'in the bay' and 'near the island'.
常見錯誤
2. to attach someone or something so firmly that it cannot easily shift or pull fre
to attach someone or something so firmly that it cannot easily shift or pull free.
Workers anchored the new bridge cables deep inside the concrete wall.
anchor something deep inside + structure
Saoirse anchored the tent with heavy stones before the mountain storm.
anchor something with + object
A steel bar anchored the bookshelf after the last earthquake.
The rope was anchored to a pine tree above the river.
文法句型
anchor something to + noun
be anchored to + noun
用法筆記
Often passive when describing something already fixed. Objects are usually physical things such as ropes, cables, tents, poles, or shelves, rather than light paper items.
常見錯誤
3. to lead a radio or television programme as its main presenter.
to lead a radio or television programme as its main presenter.
Nadia will anchor tonight's debate after the sports segment ends.
anchor + programme
For ten years, Ken Huang anchored the station's morning news.
anchor the news
A veteran journalist anchored the emergency broadcast from Taipei City Hall.
Who is anchoring the late show while Ms. Wu is in Seoul?
文法句型
anchor a programme
anchor the news
用法筆記
Usually takes a programme, debate, news show, or broadcast as its object. Distinguish from noun 3: the noun names the presenter, while this verb describes the job.
常見錯誤
4. to compete in the last position for a relay team.
to compete in the last position for a relay team.
Jamal anchored the relay and passed two runners on the final straight.
anchor the relay
Our fastest swimmer anchored the medley at the city championships.
anchor the medley
Because of her calm finish, Coach Ito asked Sora to anchor.
Ethan anchored for Taiwan in the boys relay final at nationals.
- run last
plain description without the sports term
- take the anchor leg
more explicit relay wording
- lead off
start the relay rather than finish it
文法句型
anchor the relay
anchor for + team
用法筆記
Used in sports, especially relay races and medleys. You can anchor the relay itself, or anchor for a team or country.