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.-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.-fig.: that which gives stability or security; that on which we place dependence for safety.-an emblem of hope.-a metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.-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.-one of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges; also, one of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of synapta.-to place at anchor; to secure by an anchor; as, to anchor a ship.-to fix or fasten; to fix in a stable condition; as, to anchor the cables of a suspension bridge.-to cast anchor; to come to anchor; as, our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream.-to stop; to fix or rest.-an anchoret.