heavy metal device attached to a rope, chain, etc and used to moor a ship or boat to the sea-bottom or a balloon to the ground 锚, 锚固装置（用缆﹑ 链等连接着的金属设备, 用以将船舶固定於海底或将气球固定在地面上）: They brought the boat into the harbour and dropped (the) anchor. 他们把船开进海港下锚停泊. 
(fig 比喻) person or thing that gives stability or security 可以依靠的人或事物; 靠山; 後盾. 
(idm 习语) at `anchor moored by the anchor 抛锚停泊: We lay at anchor outside the harbour. 我们在港外抛锚停泊. bring (a ship)/come to `anchor stop sailing and lower the anchor 停航抛锚. cast anchor => cast. ride at anchor => ride2. slip anchor => slip2. weigh anchor => weigh.> anchor v [I, Tn] lower an anchor; make (sth) secure with an anchor 抛锚; 用锚固装置固定（某物）: We anchored (our boat) close to the shore. 我们近岸抛锚停泊（船）.
anchorage / 5ANkErIdV; `ANkLrIdV/ n
1 [C] place where ships, etc may anchor safely （船只等安全的）停泊处, 锚地.
2 [U] money charged for anchoring 停泊税.
# `anchor man / mAn; mAn/ 1 person who co-ordinates the work of a group, esp that of interviewers and reporters in a radio or television broadcast （尤指无线电或电视采访的）主持人. 2 strong member of a sports team who has a vital part to play （运动队员中的）主力: The anchor man in a relay team runs last. 接力队中的主力跑最後一棒.