Definition of 'nail'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present
tense nails
, present participle nailing
, past tense, past participle nailed
1. countable noun
2. verb
If you nail something somewhere, you fix it there using one or more nails.
Frank put the first plank down and nailed it in place. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
They nail shut the front door. [VERB noun with adjective]
The windows were all nailed shut. [VERB-ed]
3. countable noun
Keep your nails short and your hands clean.
4. verb
5. verb
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'nail'
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
noun
nail-less (ˈnail-less)
adjective
Word origin of 'nail'
noun
1.
b.
a similar growth on a toe of a bird, reptile, etc.; claw
2.
3.
an old cloth measure, equal to 21⁄4 inches
verb transitive
4.
to attach or fasten together or onto something else with or as with nails
6.
to fix (the eyes, attention, etc.) steadily on an object
7.
to discover or expose (a lie, etc.)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'nail'
Example sentences containing 'nail'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
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He nailed harder ones but was tripped by something easy. Times, Sunday Times (2016)And still no one has been nailed for it. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Did you know that nails grow less quickly at this time of year? Times, Sunday Times (2016)Two men have been arrested after a dog was found buried alive in woodland with a nail hammered through its head. Times, Sunday Times (2016)TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after a dog was found buried alive with a nail hammered between its eyes. The Sun (2016)They are small and unfussy, with slender fingers and short, neatly shaped nails. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Now his lies have been nailed he faces having to pay it back. The Sun (2014)You have hit the nail on the head. The Sun (2008)Always use a heavy nail where a wire changes direction. Times, Sunday Times (2013)She has hit the nail on the head regarding the loss of closeness in owning a car. Times, Sunday Times (2013)Try not to anxiously stalk the postman or bite your nails down to the quick. Times, Sunday Times (2009)She has to coat with clear nail varnish all metal surfaces she touches regularly. The Sun (2010)We found nails in one of the bodies. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Needs to nail a permanent place in the team first. The Sun (2008)Do human hair and nails grow more quickly in a heat wave? Times, Sunday Times (2006)This is not a work for those who prefer hammers and nails. Christianity Today (2000)Now nail the plank to the shed wall. Times, Sunday Times (2007)You can have your first officers glitter nail polish and you can have your tattoos. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Let me nail that lie here and now. The Sun (2014)It looks like he hit the nail on the head. The Sun (2014)N-DUBZ will have no nails left to bite by the time the weekend is over. The Sun (2010)Try to make sure that her nails are clean and short to minimise the risk of infection if she scratches the skin. Times, Sunday Times (2006)There's a lot of work involved with keeping nails in good shape during the colder months. Times, Sunday Times (2010)This hotel has hit the nail on the head - the perfect blend of old and new. Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Trends of 'nail'
In Common Usage. nail is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
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Translations for 'nail'
British English: nail
/neɪl/ NOUN
metal A nail is a thin piece of metal. It is flat at one end and it has a point at the other end.
A picture hung on a nail in the wall.
- American English: nail
- Arabic: مِسْمَارٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: prego
- Chinese: 指甲
- Croatian: čavao
- Czech: hřebík
- Danish: søm
- Dutch: spijker
- European Spanish: uña general
- Finnish: naula
- French: clou
- German: Nagel
- Greek: νύχι
- Italian: chiodo
- Japanese: 釘
- Korean: 못
- Norwegian: negl
- Polish: paznokieć
- European Portuguese: prego
- Romanian: cui
- Russian: гвоздь
- Spanish: uña
- Swedish: spik
- Thai: เล็บ
- Turkish: çivi
- Ukrainian: цвях
- Vietnamese: móng
British English: nail /neɪl/ NOUN
finger, toe Your nails are the thin hard parts that grow at the ends of your fingers and toes.
Try to keep your nails short.
- American English: nail
- Arabic: ظُفْر
- Brazilian Portuguese: unha
- Chinese: 指甲
- Croatian: nokti
- Czech: nehet
- Danish: negl
- Dutch: nagel
- European Spanish: uña
- Finnish: kynsi
- French: ongle
- German: Nagel
- Greek: νύχι
- Italian: unghia
- Japanese: 爪
- Korean: 손톱
- Norwegian: negl
- Polish: paznokieć
- European Portuguese: unha
- Romanian: unghie
- Russian: ноготь
- Spanish: uña
- Swedish: naglar
- Thai: เล็บ
- Turkish: tırnak
- Ukrainian: ніготь
- Vietnamese: móng
British English: nail VERB
If you nail something somewhere, you fix it there using one or more nails.
He put the first plank down and nailed it in place.
Nearby words of 'nail'
Source
Definition of nail from the
Collins English Dictionary
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