nail Hear it!

nail Definition

nail (nāl)

noun

    1. a thin, horny covering that grows out over the upper tip of a finger or toe
    2. a similar growth on a toe of a bird, reptile, etc.; claw
  2. a tapered piece of metal, commonly pointed and having a flattened head, driven with a hammer, and used to hold pieces or parts together, to hang things on, etc.
  3. an old cloth measure, equal to 2 inches

Etymology: ME naile < OE nægl, akin to Ger nagel < IE base *onogh, nail > Sans áṅghri-, foot, Gr onyx, nail, L unguis, fingernail

transitive verb

  1. to attach or fasten together or onto something else with or as with nails
  2. to secure, hold, or fasten shut with nails
  3. to fix (the eyes, attention, etc.) steadily on an object
  4. to discover or expose (a lie, etc.)
  5. Informal to catch, capture, seize, or intercept
  6. Informal to hit squarely

Etymology: ME nailen < OE mæglan

nail Idioms

hard as nails

callous, unfeeling, remorseless, etc.

hit the nail on the head

to do or say whatever is exactly right or to the point

nail down

  1. to fasten tightly with nails
  2. to settle definitely; clinch

nail up

  1. to fasten with nails to a wall or at some height
  2. to fasten (a door, window, etc.) tightly with nails

nail Synonyms

nail

n.

brad, pin, peg, hob, stud; see also spike 1.

Types and sizes of nails include: common, copper, cement coated, masonry, dry wall, galvanized, finishing, flooring, shingle, roofing, doublehead scaffold, spiral siding, staging, boat, hinge, chair, horseshoe, brad, cut, upholsterer's, clout, box, shoe, headless, hobnail; twopenny, fourpenny, sixpenny, eightpenny, tenpenny, twelvepenny.

nail Synonyms

nail

v.

  1. To hammer

    drive, pound, spike; see beat 2, hammer, hit 1.

  2. To fasten with nails

    secure, hold, bind; see fasten 1.

  3. *To arrest

    capture, detain, apprehend; see arrest 1, seize 2.

hard as nails

callous, unfeeling, remorseless; see cruel 2.

hit the nail on the head*

say what is exactly right, be accurate, come to the point; see define 2.

nail Usage Examples

Object

jello: Creating and building effective Search Engine marketing campaigns is like trying to nail jello to the wall!

Converse of object

  • hammer: Partly this may be a matter of teaching useful skills - how to hold a fork or hammer a nail.
  • manicure: She has a powerful jaw and perfectly manicured nails that she loves to scratch and tear with.
  • galvanize: Cone headed galvanized screw nails secure the seating lathes.
  • hit: Uncle Bill hit the nail on the head with his Scooby versus Evo musings in the STI end of term report.

Adjective modifier

  • rusty: Her voice had the quality of a metal chair being scraped over rusty nails.
  • brittle: A: " Brittle nails are the result of severe dehydration in the nail plates.
  • in-growing: I was always good at in-growing nails and Mikele's got two naughty ones.
  • ingrown: Socks will help prevent blisters, calluses, corns and ingrown nails.

Modifies a noun

  • varnish: You should also remove nail varnish or bring remover with you.
  • polish: I never had pretty pink nail polish on or pretty pink dresses " .
  • clipper: Place your scissors, nail files, nail clippers, razor blades etc. in the hold.
  • remover: How is it taken: Inhaled from products such as nail varnish removers, aerosol cans and lighter fuel.
  • biter: Nail biter I would like to express my thanks to you for helping me overcome my nail biting habit.
  • clipping: We will be doing rabbit and guinea pig nail clipping and health checks in exchange for a small donation.

Noun used with modifier

  • toe: An In growing toe nail is caused by a splinter of nail or the whole nail causing pressure into the skin.
  • finger: This Chinese lute is like a Spanish guitar in some ways, with finger nails being used to pluck the strings.
  • thumb: One had an infant bird in it that was no bigger then a thumb nail!
  • batten: All batten nails need to penetrate a structural material by a minimum of 38mm.

Preposition: in

coffin: For Russia to follow suit would be the final nail in the coffin.

Browse dictionary entries near nail

  1. ‹ naif
  2. ‹ naiad
  3. ‹ NAIA
  4. ‹ Nahum
  5. ‹ Nahuatl
  6. ‹ Naha
  7. ‹ nah
  8. ‹ Nagpur
  9. ‹ Nagoya
  10. ‹ Nagorno-Karabakh
  1. nail-biter ›
  2. nail-biting ›
  3. nail file ›
  4. nail polish ›
  5. nail set ›
  6. nailbrush ›
  7. nailed-up circuit ›
  8. nailhead ›
  9. nainsook ›
  10. naira ›