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

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."

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."

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

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

anvilled past tense, anviled past tense, anvils plural, anvils singular

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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.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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stithy

Related words

stithy

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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