Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   hammer

   /ˈhamə/

   noun

   • 1. a tool with a heavy metal head mounted at right angles at the end of a handle, used for jobs such as breaking things and driving in nails.
   • ▪ a machine with a metal block for giving a heavy blow to something.
   • ▪ an auctioneer's gavel, tapped to indicate a sale.
   • ▪ a part of a mechanism that hits another part to make it work, such as one exploding the charge in a gun or one striking the strings of a piano.
   • 2. a metal ball of about 7 kg attached to a wire for throwing in an athletic contest.
   • ▪ the sport of throwing a hammer.
   • 3. another term for malleus

   verb

   • 1. hit or beat (something) repeatedly with a hammer or similar object: "he hammered the tack in" Similar beatforgeshapeformmouldfashionmake
   • ▪ strike or knock at or on something violently with one's hand or with a hammer or other object: "she hammered on his door" Similar batterpummelbeatbangpoundstrikehitknock onthump oncudgelbludgeonclubpeltassailthwackinformal:bashwallopclobberwhack
   • ▪ strike (a ball, puck, etc.) very hard: "Maclean was presented with a great chance but he hammered the ball over the bar from 10 yards" Similar batterpummelbeatbangpoundstrikehitknock onthump oncudgelbludgeonclubpeltassailthwackinformal:bashwallopclobberwhack
   • 2. attack or criticize forcefully and relentlessly: informal "he got hammered for an honest mistake" Similar criticizecensureattackcondemncastigatechastiselambastpilloryreprimandrebukeadmonishremonstrate withtake to taskhaul over the coalsberatereproachreproveinformal:knockslamlay intoroastcaneblastbawl outdress downcarpetslateslag offmonsterrollickchew outream outpummelcut upbagrare:excoriateobjurgatereprehendOpposite praise
   • ▪ utterly defeat in a game or contest: "they hammered St Mirren 4–0" Similar trouncedefeatbeatbeat hollowworstbestoverwhelmroutannihilatebring someone to their kneesinformal:thrashclobberlickdemolishslaughtermurderpastepounddrubgive someone a drubbingwipe the floor withtake to the cleanersrun rings roundwalk all overmake mincemeat ofturn something inside outstuffmarmalizeshellaccreamskunkblow outownOpposite lose to
   • 3. beat down the price of (a stock): informal "sceptical investors hammered the computer company's stock"
   • 4. declare (a person or company) a defaulter: "Willis was hammered in the recession"

   Word Origin Old Englishhamor, hamer, of Germanic origin: related to Dutch hamer, German Hammer, and Old Norse hamarr ‘rock’. The original sense was probably ‘stone tool’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. hammerless adjective
   • 2. hammerer noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • H

     4

   • A

     1

   • M

     3

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points