nail

noun
UK: /neɪl/
US: /neɪl/

  1. A small, pointed piece of metal used to join things together.

    1. I need a hammer to drive the nail into the wood. [ ] [ ]
    2. The carpenter used a special nail gun to fasten the boards quickly and efficiently. [ ] [ ]

  2. The hard, protective covering on the upper part of the fingers and toes.

    1. She painted her nail bright red for the party. [ ] [ ]
    2. Regular manicures help to keep your nail healthy and strong. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

tack pin peg claw
nail transitive-verb

  1. To fasten something with a nail.

    1. He will nail the picture to the wall. [ ] [ ]
    2. We need to properly nail down the loose floorboard before someone trips. [ ] [ ]

  2. To catch or get something, or someone, usually after a chase.

    1. The police finally nail the suspect after a long investigation. [ ] [ ]
    2. She really managed to nail that difficult exam question; she was so relieved. [ ] [ ]
nail idiom

  1. To do something perfectly.

    1. She can nail any song on the guitar. [ ] [ ]
    2. The actor managed to nail the audition and secured the leading role. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "nail" in English means: A small, pointed piece of metal used to join things together., The hard, protective covering on the upper part of the fingers and toes..

The phonetic transcription of "nail" is /neɪl/ in British English and /neɪl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "nail": tack, pin, peg, claw.

Example usage of "nail": "I need a hammer to drive the nail into the wood.". More examples on the page.