anchorage
1 Americannoun
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that portion of a harbor or area outside a harbor suitable for anchoring or in which ships are permitted to anchor.
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a charge for occupying such an area.
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the act of anchoring or the state of being anchored.
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that to which anything is fastened.
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a means of anchoring or making fast.
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something that can be relied on.
The Bible is her anchorage.
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(in a suspension bridge) a massive masonry or concrete construction securing a cable at each end.
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Dentistry.
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an abutment.
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the locking in of a tooth filling by means of an undercut.
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noun
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a seaport in S Alaska: earthquake 1964.
noun
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the largest city in Alaska, a port in the south, at the head of Cook Inlet. Pop: 270 951 (2003 est)
noun
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the cell or retreat of an anchorite
noun
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the act of anchoring
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any place where a vessel is anchored
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a place designated for vessels to anchor
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a fee imposed for anchoring
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anything used as an anchor
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a source of security or strength
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something that supplies a secure hold for something else
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City in south-central Alaska; largest city in the state.
Etymology
Origin of anchorage
First recorded in 1400–50, anchorage is from the late Middle English word ankerage. See anchor, -age
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Whenever the situation escalates, they reiterate the warning,” said a seafarer surnamed Wang whose vessel—carrying liquefied natural gas—has been stuck at an anchorage northwest of Dubai for four weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
The ship "is currently being escorted by the national navy to a point of anchorage for further verifications," it added.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
A week after the tempest, the anchorage of the Acapulco Yacht Club still looked like it had suffered intense bombardment.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2023
The buoys can break free from their anchorage either in a violent storm or from being pulled by a big fishing vessel, Professor Inall said.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2023
Past the sprawl of the camp, the anchorage was crowded with ships.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
