French word

ancre

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃kʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounanchor

Example

Il faut relever l'ancre avant de partir.

We need to raise the anchor before leaving.

Illustration for ancre (anchor)

More examples

Le bateau a jeté l'ancre près du port.

The boat dropped anchor near the harbor.

Core concept

A heavy hooked weight gripping the bottom while a vessel stays put.

Common phrases

  • jeter l'ancre

    drop anchor

  • lever l'ancre

    weigh anchor

  • une ancre de bateau

    a boat anchor

Similar words

chaîne: A series of linked metal rings used to secure heavy objects.
amarre: A rope or line used to secure a boat to shore or a dock.

Definition in French

Instrument métallique, souvent en forme de crochet, lancé au fond d'une mer ou d'un plan d'eau pour accrocher le fond et empêcher le navire de dériver.

Word origin

French ancre descends through Old French from Latin ancora, ultimately from Greek ankura, meaning 'anchor'.

Usage tips

  • Ancre is feminine, so the usual form is une ancre; in l'ancre, the article elides before the vowel.

Related words

Word lists with this word