anchor and ground share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. anchor means “a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving”. ground means “fix firmly and stably”. ground is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈæŋkɚ/
1.n.a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
2.n.a central cohesive source of support and stability
“faith is his anchor”
3.n.a television reporter who coordinates a broadcast to which several correspondents contribute
/ˈɡɹaʊnd/
1.v.fix firmly and stably
“anchor the lamppost in concrete”
2.v.confine or restrict to the ground
“After the accident, they grounded the plane and the pilot”
3.v.place or put on the ground
| anchor | ground | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈæŋkɚ/ | /ˈɡɹaʊnd/ |
| Said | ANG-kur | grownd |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Letters | 6 | 6 |
| Parts of speech | noun, verb | verb, noun |
| Senses | 5 | 23 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | ground tackle | anchor |
Full entry for anchor · Full entry for ground · More comparisons