a hand tool with a heavy rigid head and a handle; used to deliver an impulsive force by striking
"The carpenter picked up the hammer to drive the nail into the wooden frame."
a heavy metal sphere attached to a flexible wire; used in the hammer throw
"The athlete gripped the heavy metal sphere on the end of the wire before spinning rapidly for the hammer throw."
a striker that is covered in felt and that causes the piano strings to vibrate
"The heavy hammer inside the piano strikes the string when you press a key, producing a clear note."
a power tool for drilling rocks
"The geologist used a pneumatic hammer to drill through the hard granite bedrock."
A tool with a heavy head and a handle used for pounding.
"The new manager was welcomed by thousands of hammers at the stadium."
someone connected with West Ham Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.
In plain English: A hammer is a tool with a heavy head used for hitting nails into wood or breaking things apart.
"The carpenter used his hammer to nail the board into place."
Usage: Use this noun to refer specifically to the hand tool designed for striking objects rather than any blunt instrument or body part. Distinguish it from "mallet" when precision is needed versus force, as hammers typically have metal heads while mallets often feature softer wooden or rubber faces.
To strike repeatedly with a hammer, some other implement, the fist, etc.
"The carpenter hammered the nail into the wood until it was flush with the surface."
In plain English: To hammer something means to hit it repeatedly and hard with a tool or your hand.
"He hammered the nail into the wood until it was flush with the surface."
A surname.
"The famous jazz musician named Hammer performed his first solo at the club last night."
The word "hammer" comes from Old English hamor, originally meaning a tool with a stone head. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages like Dutch and German.