anvil

Everyday

1. A heavy iron block with a flat top on which a blacksmith hammers hot metal into shape. tree →
2. A tiny bone in the middle ear, also called the incus. tree →
3. (weather) The flat, spreading top of a big thundercloud. tree →

In the lessons

In history and stories the anvil belongs to blacksmiths, who hammer horseshoes and swords on it. In science lessons the ear has three tiny bones: hammer, anvil and stirrup. In cartoons an anvil often falls on a character's head. Phrases: «hammer and anvil», «anvil cloud».

Examples

• The blacksmith hammered the red-hot horseshoe on the anvil. tree →
• Clang! went the hammer on the anvil. tree →
• The anvil is one of the three tiny bones in your ear. tree →
• A storm cloud with an anvil top can bring thunder and hail. tree →
• In the cartoon an anvil fell on the coyote. tree →
• An anvil is so heavy that it doesn't move when you hit it. tree →
• Cursed be the smith who forged it, and the anvil on which it was wrought!’ tree →

Note

Countable, use «an»: an anvil. Stress: AN-vil.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means the block on which a metalworker hammers an idol into shape.

Interpretation. Isaiah mocks the craftsmen who encourage each other as they make a god out of metal that has to be nailed down so it will not fall.

Examples

• So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering: 'It is good'; and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. (Prophets ISA.41.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable, use «an»: an anvil. Stress: AN-vil.