¹hammer

noun ham·mer \ˈha-mər\

: a tool that has a heavy metal head attached to a handle and that is used for hitting nails or breaking things apart

: a similar tool made usually of wood and used especially for hitting a surface to make a loud noise

: the part of a gun that strikes a charge causing the gun to shoot

Full Definition of HAMMER

a : a hand tool consisting of a solid head set crosswise on a handle and used for pounding

b : a power tool that often substitutes a metal block or a drill for the hammerhead

: something that resembles a hammer in form or action: as

a : a lever with a striking head for ringing a bell or striking a gong

b (1) : an arm that strikes the cap in a percussion lock to ignite the propelling charge (2) : a part of the action of a modern gun that strikes the primer of the cartridge in firing or that strikes the firing pin to ignite the cartridge

c : malleus

d : gavel

e (1) : a padded mallet in a piano action for striking a string (2) : a hand mallet for playing on various percussion instruments (as a xylophone)

: a metal sphere thrown for distance in the hammer throw

: accelerator b

— under the hammer

: for sale at auction

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Origin of HAMMER

Middle English hamer, from Old English hamor; akin to Old High German hamar hammer, and perhaps to Old Church Slavic kamen-, kamy stone, Greek akmē point, edge — more at edge

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with HAMMER

clamber, clammer, clamor, crammer, gammer, glamour, grammar, jammer, lamber, rammer, scammer, shammer, slammer, spammer, stammer, yammer

²hammer

verb

: to force (something) into a particular place or shape by hitting it with a hammer

: to attach (something) with a hammer and nails

: to hit (something or someone) in a very forceful way

ham·meredham·mer·ing \ˈha-mər-iŋ, ˈham-riŋ\

Full Definition of HAMMER

intransitive verb

: to strike blows especially repeatedly with or as if with a hammer : pound

: to make repeated efforts; especially : to reiterate an opinion or attitude <the lectures all hammered away at the same points>

transitive verb

a : to beat, drive, or shape with repeated blows of a hammer

b : to fasten or build with a hammer

: to strike or drive with a force suggesting a hammer blow or repeated blows <hammered the ball over the fence> <tried to hammer me into submission>

: to criticize severely

— ham·mer·er \ˈha-mər-ər\ noun

See hammer defined for English-language learners