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| ham·mer [ hámmər ] |
noun (plural ham·mers) |
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| Definition: |
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1. pounding tool: a hand tool consisting of a shaft with a metal head at right angles to it, used mainly for driving in nails and beating metal
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2. mechanical striking tool: a powered mechanical striking tool used mainly in forging metal
  a steam hammer
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3. striking part: a part that strikes another in various devices, e.g. in a piano or striking clock
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4. arms part of gun: the part of the firing mechanism of a gun that delivers the impact that detonates the cartridge
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5. track and field object for throwing: a heavy metal ball attached to a handle of flexible wire, thrown in an athletics field event
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6. track and field
Same as hammer throw
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7. auctioneer's gavel: a gavel used by an auctioneer
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8. anatomy
Same as malleus
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verb (past and past participle ham·mered, present participle ham·mer·ing, 3rd person present singular ham·mers) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb pound something in: to force something such as a nail into something else by pounding it with a hammer
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2. transitive verb beat something into shape: to beat something with a hammer, especially to shape it
hammering tin into bowls
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3. transitive and intransitive verb hit something hard and repeatedly: to hit or strike something hard and repeatedly
hammering at the door
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4. transitive verb cause something to be remembered: to cause something to be remembered, realized, or understood by repeating it forcefully and frequently
hammered the multiplication table into our heads
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5. intransitive verb move with powerful rhythm: to produce fast powerful rhythmic movements or beats
Their hearts were hammering.
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6. transitive verb damage something severely: to inflict serious damage on something
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7. transitive verb beat somebody up: to beat somebody severely
(
informal
)
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8. transitive verb defeat somebody by large margin: to inflict a convincing defeat on somebody, especially an opponent in a competitive sport
(
slang
)
Our team got hammered in last week's game.
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9. transitive verb criticize somebody or something heavily: to subject somebody or something to severe criticism
(
slang
)
The critics really hammered his last play.
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| [ Old English hamor< Germanic, "stone, stone tool"] |
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| ham·mer·er noun |
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go at it hammer and tongs
1. to do something with maximum energy and force
2. to fight or argue violently
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go or come under the hammer to be up for auction or sale
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