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
- She hit her thumb with the hammer.
- She took a hammer and knocked a hole in the wall.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Tools
- adze
- Allen key
- anvil
- auger
- awl
- axe
- excavator
- grappling iron/hook
- grindstone
- guillotine
- hacksaw
- hatchet
- plunger
- rasp
- reamer
- sander
- sandpaper
- scissor
- scissors
- vane
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hammer noun [ C ] (SPORT)
a heavy metal ball attached to a chain that is thrown as part of a sports event
the event or sport in which a hammer is thrown as far as possible:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Athletics
- athlete
- athletics
- caber
- finish line
- finishing line 1
- finishing line
- follow through
- hammer throwing
- hurdler
- marathon
- relay
- running
- sack race
- shot
- stagger
- steeplechase
- track
- track meet
- triathlon
- water jump
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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
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Parts of guns
- barrel
- bore
- business end
- butt
- clip
- flint
- gauge
- holster
- magazine
- muffler
- muzzle
- ramrod
- safety catch
- sight
- silencer
- stock
- trigger
- turret
hammer noun [ C ] (PART OF PIANO)
one of the parts of a piano that hits the strings to make a sound
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Musical instruments
- accordion
- alphorn
- alto
- alto recorder
- bagpipes
- dulcimer
- English horn
- euphonium
- fingerboard
- flugelhorn
- pick
- pitched
- plectrum
- reed
- reed instrument
- viol
- viola
- violin
- violoncello
- vuvuzela
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Idiom(s)
hammerverb
uk/ˈhæm.ər/us/ˈhæm.ɚ/hammer verb (USE TOOL)
[ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] to hit something with a hammer:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Hitting and beating
- a bunch of fives idiom
- a rap on/over the knuckles idiom
- at-risk
- bang up sb/sth
- bashing
- conk
- deck
- hell
- kick
- knock
- knock sb's block off idiom
- lay
- lay sb out
- licking
- mess sb up
- pound
- pummel
- put the boot in idiom
- swing
- thump
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hammer verb (HIT WITH FORCE)
[ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] to hit or kick something with a lot of force:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Hitting and beating
- a bunch of fives idiom
- a rap on/over the knuckles idiom
- at-risk
- bang up sb/sth
- bashing
- conk
- deck
- hell
- kick
- knock
- knock sb's block off idiom
- lay
- lay sb out
- licking
- mess sb up
- pound
- pummel
- put the boot in idiom
- swing
- thump
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hammer verb (DEFEAT)
[ T ] informal to defeat someone completely in a game or a fight:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Winning and defeating
- annihilate
- bank
- be one in the eye for sb idiom
- beat sb at their own game idiom
- beat sb hollow idiom
- convincing
- outmanoeuvre
- outpace
- outperform
- outscore
- overpower
- pip
- sew
- sweep
- trouncing
- trump
- unassailable
- unbeaten
- undefeated
- wipe
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hammer verb (CRITICIZE)
[ T ] informal to criticize someone or something strongly:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Disapproving & criticizing
- -basher
- animadversion
- aspersions
- backbite
- bad-mouth
- belabour
- damn
- damn sb with faint praise idiom
- denounce
- dig
- disapproval
- give sb hell idiom
- lashing
- pitch into sb/sth
- pound
- pound away at sth/sb
- pull sth apart
- put the boot in idiom
- take a dim view of sth idiom
- throw
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