nail
IPA: nˈeɪɫ
noun
- The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.
- 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.
- A round pedestal on which merchants once carried out their business, such as the four nails outside The Exchange, Bristol.
- An archaic English unit of length equivalent to ¹⁄₂₀ of an ell or ¹⁄₁₆ of a yard (2+¹⁄₄ inches or 5.715 cm).
- A surname transferred from the nickname.
verb
- (transitive) To fix (an object) to another object using a nail.
- (intransitive) To drive a nail.
- (transitive) To stud or boss with nails, or as if with nails.
- (slang) To catch.
- (transitive, slang) To expose as a sham.
- (transitive, slang) To accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.
- (transitive, slang) To hit (a target) effectively with some weapon.
- (transitive, vulgar, slang) Of a male, to engage in sexual intercourse with.
- (military) To spike, as a cannon.
- (transitive) To nail down: to make certain, or confirm.
Examples of "nail" in Sentences
- Double coat roughens the nail.
- The nail has protruded on the wall.
- I need a hammer, a rivet and nails.
- It hits the nail squarely on the head.
- The blacksmith was bracing a nail into a brad.
- The brace is then nailed to the plates and the studs.
- The nails on the fingers and toes of the body will readily disconnect.
- The liver opens to the eyes and manifests in the finger and toe nails.
- What might make a human toe nail discolor, like to an ugly brown or black
- A nail avulsion is performed to remove all or part of a chronic ingrown nail.