1. A hand tool with a heavy rigid head and a handle; used to deliver an impulsive force by striking
   "He used a hammer to drive the nail into the wall"
    
2. The act of pounding (delivering repeated heavy blows)
   "the sudden hammer of fists caught him off guard";
   - pound, hammering, pounding
    
3. The part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
   "The hammer of the antique pistol was ornately engraved";
   - cock
    
4. A striker that is covered in felt and that causes the piano strings to vibrate
   "The piano technician adjusted the hammer to improve the instrument's sound"
    
5. A light drumstick with a rounded head that is used to strike such percussion instruments as chimes, kettledrums, marimbas, glockenspiels, etc.
   "The percussionist skilfully wielded the hammer to create a melodic rhythm on the xylophone";
   - mallet
    
6. A heavy metal sphere attached to a flexible wire; used in the hammer throw
   "The athlete spun around before releasing the hammer"
    
7. A large machine used for shaping metal by repeated blows
   "The blacksmith used a power hammer to forge the horseshoes";
   - power hammer
    
8. The ossicle attached to the eardrum
   "The hammer is the first of three small bones in the middle ear";
   - malleus

1. Beat with or as if with a hammer
   "hammer the metal flat"
    
2. Create by hammering
   "hammer the silver into a bowl";
   - forge
    
3. [informal] Beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
   "Our team hammered the opposition";
   - cream [informal], clobber [informal], drub [informal], thrash [informal], lick [informal], paste [informal], blow away [informal], muller [Brit, informal], marmelize [Brit, informal], marmelise [Brit, informal], trounce, whale [N. Amer, informal], wipe the floor [informal], marmalise [Brit, informal], beat hollow [informal], slaughter [informal], marmalize [Brit, informal], smoke [N. Amer, informal], shellack [N. Amer, informal], shellac [N. Amer, informal]

Derived forms: hammering, hammers, hammered

See also: hammered

Type of: auditory ossicle, beat, beat out, blow, crush, drumstick, hand tool, power tool, shell [US], sports equipment, striker, trounce, vanquish

Part of: firing mechanism, gunlock, middle ear, percussion instrument, percussive instrument, piano action, tympanic cavity, tympanum

Encyclopedia: Hammer, Sir de Roburt