Anvil
noun
A heavy block of iron or steel on which metal can be hammered and shaped.
The blacksmith was beating the hot iron on the anvil.
Often appears as...
- on the anvil
- beat on anvil
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A bone in the middle ear of mammals that pass vibrations from the drum to the inner ear.
The function of the anvil is to transfer sound vibrations from the drum to the cochlea.
Often appears as...
- ear anvil
- anvil bone
noun
Something providing immense, typically formative pressure or stress.
His life had been hammered out on the anvil of hard times.
Often appears as...
- life on anvil
- under anvil
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A heavy block of iron or steel on which metal can be hammered and shaped.
The blacksmith was beating the hot iron on the anvil.
Often appears as...
- on the anvil
- beat on anvil
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A bone in the middle ear of mammals that pass vibrations from the drum to the inner ear.
The function of the anvil is to transfer sound vibrations from the drum to the cochlea.
Often appears as...
- ear anvil
- anvil bone
noun
Something providing immense, typically formative pressure or stress.
His life had been hammered out on the anvil of hard times.
Often appears as...
- life on anvil
- under anvil
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Blacksmithing Tool
Primarily associated with blacksmithing, 'anvil' indicates a tool used for metalworking.
The blacksmith drew the metal from the forge and laid it upon the anvil.
Pro Tip 2/3Symbol of Strength
'Anvil' can symbolize strength and endurance, often used metaphorically.
He was known as the anvil of the courtroom, unyielding and strong.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Craft
An anvil is a traditional tool, evoking historical craftsmanship.
Visiting the old workshop, we saw an ancient anvil, silent witness to a bygone era.
Pro Tip 1/3Blacksmithing Tool
Primarily associated with blacksmithing, 'anvil' indicates a tool used for metalworking.
The blacksmith drew the metal from the forge and laid it upon the anvil.
Pro Tip 2/3Symbol of Strength
'Anvil' can symbolize strength and endurance, often used metaphorically.
He was known as the anvil of the courtroom, unyielding and strong.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Craft
An anvil is a traditional tool, evoking historical craftsmanship.
Visiting the old workshop, we saw an ancient anvil, silent witness to a bygone era.
Pro Tip 1/3Blacksmithing Tool
Primarily associated with blacksmithing, 'anvil' indicates a tool used for metalworking.
The blacksmith drew the metal from the forge and laid it upon the anvil.
Pro Tip 2/3Symbol of Strength
'Anvil' can symbolize strength and endurance, often used metaphorically.
He was known as the anvil of the courtroom, unyielding and strong.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Craft
An anvil is a traditional tool, evoking historical craftsmanship.
Visiting the old workshop, we saw an ancient anvil, silent witness to a bygone era.
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Video examples
Cloudy with a chance of...
pay attention to what's so commonplace so every day so mundane that everybody else misses it one glad that people rarely miss is this one the cumulonimbus storm cloud alright what produces thunder and lightning and hail these clouds spread out at the top in this enormous anvil fashion
Video examples
Gavin Pretor-Pinney:...
so mundane that everybody else misses it. One cloud that people rarely miss is this the cumulonimbus storm cloud. It's what's produces thunder and lightning and hail. These clouds spread out at the top in this enormous anvil fashion stretching 10 miles up into the atmosphere.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 344 PIPE...
have such numbers but that was in a very high resource rich area whereby there is enormous numbers of buffalo zebra anvil the best so I have no doubt that food resource it's also an important driving force behind the number of lion cubs that are born but then I might be
Video examples
Which is stronger: Glue...
may form the strongest bonds, but two-component epoxy glues have much higher resistance to heat and shearing, and are compatible with a wider range of surfaces. So, if you wanted to dangle an anvil in the air, super glue might be your best bet.
Video examples
The science of hearing -...
which hits the anvil and moves the third bone called the stapes. Its motion pushes the fluid within the long chambers of the cochlea. Once there, the sound vibrations have finally been converted into vibrations of a fluid,
Video examples
Nicholas Negroponte: 5...
Now, imagine a program where some of those objects are physically heavy and some are one is an anvil on a fuzzy rug and the other one is a ping-pong ball on a sheet of glass.
Video examples
Inside the Gas Planet PIPE...
frozen crystals of methane mixed with hydrogen helium we might pass some of these towering anvil clouds that we know are there and as we looked at those we would look for
Video examples
There are no scraps of...
put a special stool a special anvil especial vice and maybe an electrical screwdrivers I said listen that's it's insane and is even cruel to think of anything like
Video examples
Alberto Cairo: There are...
And then he said, "No, we can modify the workbench maybe to put a special stool, a special anvil, special vice, and maybe an electric screwdriver."
Video examples
Cutest Baby Chimp Learns...
the anvil is almost always the root of a tree
Video examples
Cloudy with a chance of...
pay attention to what's so commonplace so every day so mundane that everybody else misses it one glad that people rarely miss is this one the cumulonimbus storm cloud alright what produces thunder and lightning and hail these clouds spread out at the top in this enormous anvil fashion
Video examples
Gavin Pretor-Pinney:...
so mundane that everybody else misses it. One cloud that people rarely miss is this the cumulonimbus storm cloud. It's what's produces thunder and lightning and hail. These clouds spread out at the top in this enormous anvil fashion stretching 10 miles up into the atmosphere.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 344 PIPE...
have such numbers but that was in a very high resource rich area whereby there is enormous numbers of buffalo zebra anvil the best so I have no doubt that food resource it's also an important driving force behind the number of lion cubs that are born but then I might be
Video examples
Which is stronger: Glue...
may form the strongest bonds, but two-component epoxy glues have much higher resistance to heat and shearing, and are compatible with a wider range of surfaces. So, if you wanted to dangle an anvil in the air, super glue might be your best bet.
Video examples
The science of hearing -...
which hits the anvil and moves the third bone called the stapes. Its motion pushes the fluid within the long chambers of the cochlea. Once there, the sound vibrations have finally been converted into vibrations of a fluid,
Video examples
Nicholas Negroponte: 5...
Now, imagine a program where some of those objects are physically heavy and some are one is an anvil on a fuzzy rug and the other one is a ping-pong ball on a sheet of glass.
Video examples
Inside the Gas Planet PIPE...
frozen crystals of methane mixed with hydrogen helium we might pass some of these towering anvil clouds that we know are there and as we looked at those we would look for
Video examples
There are no scraps of...
put a special stool a special anvil especial vice and maybe an electrical screwdrivers I said listen that's it's insane and is even cruel to think of anything like
Video examples
Alberto Cairo: There are...
And then he said, "No, we can modify the workbench maybe to put a special stool, a special anvil, special vice, and maybe an electric screwdriver."
Video examples
Cutest Baby Chimp Learns...
the anvil is almost always the root of a tree
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Edwin Markham
American Poet
For all your days be prepared, and meet them ever alike. When you are the anvil, bear - when you are the hammer, strike.
Quote examples
Aeschylus
Greek Poet
The anvil of justice is planted firm, and fate who makes the sword does the forging in advance.
Quote examples
Charles R. Swindoll
American Clergyman
A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living.
Quote examples
Thomas Malory
English Author
Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England.
Quote examples
Henry Ward Beecher
American Clergyman
We are always on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things.
Quote examples
Hubert H. Humphrey
American Politician
Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate.
Quote examples
Angie Harmon
American Model
I keep waiting, like in the cartoons, for an anvil to drop on my head.
Quote examples
Emile Zola
French Novelist
One forges one's style on the terrible anvil of daily deadlines.
Quote examples
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet
In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.
Quote examples
Emily Dickinson
American Poet
It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.
Quote examples
Edwin Markham
American Poet
For all your days be prepared, and meet them ever alike. When you are the anvil, bear - when you are the hammer, strike.
Quote examples
Aeschylus
Greek Poet
The anvil of justice is planted firm, and fate who makes the sword does the forging in advance.
Quote examples
Charles R. Swindoll
American Clergyman
A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living.
Quote examples
Thomas Malory
English Author
Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England.
Quote examples
Henry Ward Beecher
American Clergyman
We are always on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things.
Quote examples
Hubert H. Humphrey
American Politician
Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate.
Quote examples
Angie Harmon
American Model
I keep waiting, like in the cartoons, for an anvil to drop on my head.
Quote examples
Emile Zola
French Novelist
One forges one's style on the terrible anvil of daily deadlines.
Quote examples
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet
In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.
Quote examples
Emily Dickinson
American Poet
It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.
Example 1 of 10
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