anchorage

/ˈæŋ.kər.ɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈæŋkɚədʒ] /ˈæŋ.kɚ.ɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈæŋkɚədʒ] /ˈaŋ-k(ə-)rij/ (ame, mw)

anchorage — noun

  • anchoragesingular
  • anchoragesplural

1. an area of water near the coast or in a harbour where a ship or boat can safely

1.名詞B1
釋義

an area of water near the coast or in a harbour where a ship or boat can safely drop anchor and stay without drifting away

例句

The captain steered the cargo ship towards a safe anchorage near the harbour entrance.

determiner a + adjective safe + anchorage

Dewi found a calm anchorage behind the rocky headland just before sunset.

verb + anchorage: found a ... anchorage

同義詞
  • harbour

    a broader term, often including docks, buildings and shelter, not just a spot to anchor

  • mooring

    a specific point where a boat is tied up, often at a dock or buoy rather than by dropping anchor

  • berth

    a designated spot for a ship to park, usually at a dock or pier

文法句型

[adjective] + anchorage

anchorage + [preposition]

用法筆記

This sense refers specifically to a location in water where vessels stop; it is the most frequent usage of 'anchorage'. The word is also widely used as a proper noun — 'Anchorage' is the name of a large city in the US state of Alaska, which is a distinct use from these common-noun senses.

常見錯誤

❌The ship found an anchor in the bay.
✅The ship found an anchorage in the bay.
💡'anchorage' is the location; 'anchor' is the heavy metal object dropped into the water.

2. a point or location on land where an object, structure, or rope is fixed securel

2.名詞B2
釋義

a point or location on land where an object, structure, or rope is fixed securely so that it does not move or come loose

例句

The climbers tested each anchorage on the cliff face before trusting it with their weight.

tested each anchorage — safety-check collocation

Leo drilled into the wall to create a secure anchorage for the heavy shelf.

create a secure anchorage for + noun

同義詞
  • fastening point

    more general, less technical; any spot where something is attached

  • fixing

    used mainly in British technical contexts, e.g. wall fixings for shelves

  • mount

    a device or plate that holds equipment in place, often in engineering

文法句型

anchorage for + [noun]

provide anchorage

用法筆記

This sense is broader than sense 1: it applies to any physical fastening on land — climbing gear, building structures, tents, or industrial equipment. The object being secured is introduced by 'for'.

常見錯誤

❌The rope needs an anchor on the rock.
✅The rope needs an anchorage on the rock.
💡'anchor' refers to a heavy device dropped from a boat; 'anchorage' is the fixing point on land.

3. the process or act of making something stay firmly in place, or the state of bei

3.名詞C1
釋義

the process or act of making something stay firmly in place, or the state of being held steady and unable to move or drift

例句

The anchorage of the suspension cables was completed two weeks ahead of schedule.

anchorage of + noun — technical pattern

Paloma checked the anchorage of every bolt on the climbing wall before the competition began.

同義詞
  • securing

    more general and everyday, less technical than 'anchorage'

  • fixing

    common in British English for attaching something to a surface

  • fastening

    emphasises the act of closing or locking rather than stabilising in position

反義詞
  • release

    the opposite action of setting something free from a fixed position

文法句型

anchorage of + [noun]

for anchorage

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 names a location in water, while this sense names the process or state of being fastened. Common in engineering, construction, and safety inspection contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The anchorage of the boat was a quiet bay.
✅The anchorage of the boat was done by dropping two anchors.
💡the first is a place (sense 1), the second describes the action (sense 3).