nail

/neɪl/

noun 5verb 5name 1

Collocations

(noun.) on the fingers/toes

ADJ

VERB + NAIL

bite, chew

do, manicure

She does her nails every Sunday evening before the work week begins.

scrub | clip, cut, trim | file | paint, polish, varnish

dig

When she was nervous, she would dig her nails into the armrest during the flight.

NAIL + VERB

break, split | bite/dig into sth

NAIL + NOUN

brush | clippers, scissors | file | polish, varnish

PREP

under your ~

I need to wash my hands because there's paint under my nails from the art project.

(noun.) piece of metal

ADJ

VERB + NAIL

drive (in), hammer (in), knock (in) | pull out, remove

NAIL + NOUN

head | hole | bomb

(noun.) on the fingers/toes

ADJ

VERB + NAIL

bite, chew

do, manicure

I usually do my nails on Sunday evening before the work week starts.

scrub | clip, cut, trim | file | paint, polish, varnish

dig

The cat dug its nails into the sofa cushion when it heard the loud noise.

NAIL + VERB

break, split | bite/dig into sth

NAIL + NOUN

brush | clippers, scissors | file | polish, varnish

PREP

under your ~

I need to wash my hands because there's still dirt under my nails from gardening.

(noun.) piece of metal

ADJ

VERB + NAIL

drive (in), hammer (in), knock (in) | pull out, remove

NAIL + NOUN

head | hole | bomb

(also.)

ADJ

chipped, cracked

VERB + NAIL VARNISH

have on, wear

My sister had on bright blue nail varnish for the wedding last weekend.

apply, put on | remove, take off

Definitions

noun

The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.

When I'm nervous I bite my nails.

The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera.

The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks, and other allied birds.

The claw of a bird or other animal.

A spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials. The nail is generally driven through two or more layers of material by means of impacts from a hammer or other device. It is then held in place by friction.

Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

verb

To fix (an object) to another object using a nail.

He nailed the placard to the post.

To drive a nail.

He used the ax head for nailing.

To stud or boss with nails, or as if with nails.

The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold.

To catch.

I pray you now send me some dub, / A bottle or two to the needy. / I beg you won't bring it yourself, / The harman is at the Old-Bailey; / I'd rather you'd send it behalf, / For, if they twig you they'll nail you.

Military Intelligence seems to be on the spot in a quiet sort of way. I just met a G-2 slue-foot and he was a most efficient guy! They're keeping low, I think, until they nail their man.

To expose as a sham.

name

A surname transferred from the nickname.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

verb — complete a pass

complete

verb — take into custody

verb — hit hard

verb — locate exactly

pinpoint

verb — succeed at easily

verb — succeed in obtaining a position

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

nail down

to attach with nails

Nail down the shelf, then paint it.

hit the nail on the head

To identify something exactly; to arrive at exactly the right answer.

He hit the nail on the head when he said the problem was the thermostat.

another nail in someone's coffin

An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

Following the divorce and the lawsuit, bankruptcy is just another nail in his coffin.

if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail

With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminately.

final nail in the coffin

Something that is ultimately responsible for a previously prospective demise or failure.

The Slurpie Shack franchise was already considering filing for bankruptcy after five years of poor profits, but a fire that destroyed the flagship restaurant was the final nail in

Example Bank

When I'm nervous I bite my nails.

Wiktionary

Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an

Wiktionary

He nailed the placard to the post.

Wiktionary

He used the ax head for nailing.

Wiktionary

The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold.

Wiktionary

To the man who only has a hammer in the toolkit, every problem looks like a nail.

Tatoeba · #2292

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, nail is marked as slang. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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