anvil Meaning & Definition
What Does Anvil Mean?
As a noun, anvil means A heavy iron block used in the blacksmithing trade as a surface upon which metal can be struck and shaped. It can also mean The incus bone in the middle ear. As a verb, it means To fashion on, or as if on, an anvil. As a verb, it means To fashion on an anvil (often used figuratively).
Word Facts for Anvil
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈæn.vəl// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | incus and stithy |
| Plural | anvils |
| Verb forms | anvils, and past participle |
Anvil Definition (Noun)
- A heavy iron block used in the blacksmithing trade as a surface upon which metal can be struck and shaped.
- The incus bone in the middle ear.
- A stone or other hard surface used by a bird for breaking the shells of snails.
- The non-moving surface of a micrometer against which the item to be measured is placed.
- A horizontal-topped mass of cloud, shaped like a blacksmith's anvil, that forms before a thunderstorm.
Anvil as a Verb
- To fashion on, or as if on, an anvil.
Noun
- An incus bone in the middle ear.
Verb
- To fashion on an anvil (often used figuratively).
Synonyms of Anvil
Anvil synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Anvil
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Anvil in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
anvil (plural anvils)
anvil (third-person singular simple present anvils, present participle (US) anviling or (UK) anvilling, simple past and past participle (US) anviled or (UK) anvilled)
Words That Rhyme With Anvil
Origin of Anvil
From Middle English anfilt, anvelt, anfelt, from late Old English anfilt, anfilte, anfealt, from earlier onfilti (“anvil”), from Proto-West Germanic *anafalt (compare Middle Dutch anvilte, Low German Anfilts, Anefilt, Old High German anafalz), compound of *ana (“on”) + *falt (“beaten”) (compare German falzen (“to groove, fold, welt”), Swedish dialectal filta (“to beat”)), from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂-t- (“shaken, beaten”) (compare Middle Irish lethar (“leather”), Latin pellō (“to beat, strike”), Ancient Greek πάλλω (pállō, “to toss, brandish”)), enlargement of Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- (“to stir, move”). More at felon.
Anvil Pronunciation
The standard pronunciation of anvil is //ˈæn.vəl//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Questions People Ask About Anvil
Is anvil a noun or a verb?
Anvil is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for anvil?
You can replace anvil with words such as incus and stithy. See the full list of anvil synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of anvil?
The plural of anvil is anvils.
What is the past tense of anvil?
The past tense of anvil is and past participle.