ˈhæmə n. & v. --n. 1 a a
tool with a
heavy metal head at
right angles to
the handle, used
for breaking, driving nails, etc. b a
machine with a metal
block serving the
same purpose. c a
similar contrivance, as for exploding the
charge in a
gun,
striking the strings of a piano, etc. 2 an auctioneer's
mallet, indicating by a
rap that an
article is
sold. 3 a a metal ball of
about 7
kg, attached to a
wire for throwing in an
athletic contest. b the
sport of throwing the hammer. 4 a
bone of the
middle ear; the
malleus. --v. 1 a tr. & intr.
hit or
beat with or as with a hammer. b intr.
strike loudly;
knock violently (esp. on a door). 2 tr. a
drive in (nails) with a hammer. b
fasten or
secure by hammering (hammered the
lid down). 3 tr. (often foll. by in)
inculcate (ideas,
knowledge, etc.) forcefully or repeatedly. 4 tr. colloq. utterly
defeat;
inflict heavy
damage on. 5 intr. (foll. by
at,
away at)
work hard or persistently at. 6 tr.
Stock Exch.
declare (a
person or a firm) a
defaulter. øcome
under the hammer be sold at an
auction. hammer
and sickle the symbols of the
industrial worker and the
peasant used as the
emblem of the
USSR and of
international communism. hammer and
tongs colloq. with
great vigour and
commotion. hammer
out 1
make flat or
smooth by hammering. 2 work out the details of (a
plan,
agreement, etc.) laboriously. 3
play (a
tune,
esp. on the piano) loudly or clumsily. hammer-toe a
deformity in
which the
toe is bent permanently downwards. øøhammering n. (esp. in
sense 4 of v.). hammerless adj. [OE hamor, hamer]
