Definition of “hammer” - English Dictionary

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“hammer” in English

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hammernoun [ C ]

uk ​ /ˈhæm.ər/ us ​ /ˈhæm.ɚ/

hammer noun [ C ] (TOOL)

B2 a tool consisting of a piece of metal with a flat end that is fixed onto the end of a long, thin, usually wooden handle, used for hitting things

Examples

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hammer noun [ C ] (PART OF GUN)

› the part of a gun that hits another part when you pull the trigger to send out the bullet

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Idiom(s)

be/go at it hammer and tongs
come/go under the hammer

hammerverb

uk ​ /ˈhæm.ər/ us ​ /ˈhæm.ɚ/

hammer verb (HIT WITH FORCE)

› [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] to hit or kick something with a lot of force:

I was woken up suddenly by the sound of someone hammering on/at the front door.
He hammered the ball into the net, giving France a 3–2 win over Italy.

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Idiom(s)

hammer sth home

Phrasal verb(s)

hammer away at sth
hammer sth into sb
hammer sth out

(Definition of “hammer” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“hammer” in American English

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hammernoun [ C ]

us ​ /ˈhæm·ər/

› a tool with a heavy metal top attached to a straight handle, used for hitting an object such as a nail into a substance that holds it firmly in place

hammerverb [ I/T ]

us ​ /ˈhæm·ər/

› to hit something repeatedly with, or as if with, a hammer:

[ T ] I hammered the nail into the wall.

› To hammer is also to repeat again and again esp. to persuade other people about something:

[ I always + adv/prep ] Martin Luther King, Jr., hammered at the theme that the civil rights movement must avoid violence.
[ I always + adv/prep ] His attorneys hammered away at the idea that the police department was incompetent.

Phrasal verb(s)

hammer out something

(Definition of “hammer” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“hammer” in Business English

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hammerverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈhæmər/ us ​

› to reduce the value or amount of something:

Concern over the economic crisis continues to hammer the country's stock market and currency, with both falling by 6%.
be/get hammered (by sth) Public transport users will be hammered by a 15 percent reduction in service set to go into effect June 17.
hammer the market

› to sell a large number of shares in the belief that prices are higher than they should be

hammer sth home

› to make certain that something is understood by expressing it clearly and forcefully:

The severity of the slump in the housing market has been hammered home by figures released recently by the banks.
hammer home a message/point It is hoped that the latest advertising campaign will hammer home the message about the dangers of alcohol.

Phrasal verb(s)

hammer away at sb
hammer away at sth
hammer sth down
hammer sth out

hammernoun

uk ​ /ˈhæmər/ us ​ COMMERCE
come/go under the hammer

› to be sold at an auction to the person who offers the most money:

Auctioneers estimate the collection could fetch up to £50,000 when it goes under the hammer next month.

(Definition of “hammer” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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