noun
anvil
AN-vihl
Anvil (noun) means a heavy block of iron with a flat top, used by blacksmiths as a surface for hammering and shaping hot metal. Example: “The blacksmith rested the glowing horseshoe on the anvil before striking it.”
noun
1
A heavy block of iron with a flat top, used by blacksmiths as a surface for hammering and shaping hot metal.
"The blacksmith rested the glowing horseshoe on the anvil before striking it."
2
The small anvil-shaped bone in the middle ear (also called the incus).
"Sound vibrations pass from the hammer to the anvil and then to the stirrup in the ear."
3
A flat-topped, spreading cloud formation that appears at the top of a thunderstorm.
"Pilots steered well clear of the anvil cloud building over the mountains."
verb
1
To shape or hammer something as if working it on a blacksmith's anvil.
"The sculptor anviled the sheet of copper into a curved bowl."
How to use anvil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe heavy metal block a blacksmith hammers on — also used for the matching-shaped ear bone and storm cloud.
Common pairings
strike the anvil
anvil cloud
blacksmith's anvil
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Word forms
- Plural
- anvils
- Third person singular
- anvils
- Past tense
- anvilled, anviled
Fill the gap
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The blacksmith rested the glowing horseshoe on the _____ before striking it.
Etymology
From Old English anfilte, built from "on" + a Germanic root meaning "beaten" — literally something metal is beaten on.
Synonyms
View more →
incus
stithy
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “anvil” mean?
The word “anvil” means a heavy block of iron with a flat top, used by blacksmiths as a surface for hammering and shaping hot metal. In plain terms, the heavy metal block a blacksmith hammers on — also used for the matching-shaped ear bone and storm cloud.
How do you pronounce “anvil”?
“Anvil” is pronounced AN-vihl (/ˈæn.vəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “anvil” in a sentence?
Here is “anvil” used in a sentence: “The blacksmith rested the glowing horseshoe on the anvil before striking it.”
What is another word for “anvil”?
Words with a similar meaning to “anvil” include stithy.
What part of speech is “anvil”?
Depending on how it is used, “anvil” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “anvil” come from?
The word “anvil” comes from Old English. From Old English anfilte, built from "on" + a Germanic root meaning "beaten" — literally something metal is beaten on.
How many meanings does “anvil” have?
“Anvil” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a heavy block of iron with a flat top, used by blacksmiths as a surface for hammering and shaping hot metal.
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