WordGarden.ionail
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈeɪl/
US
- /ˈneɪl/
Meanings
Noun
the hard covering at the end of a finger or toe
a small metal spike used for fastening things together
Verb
to fasten something with nails
to do, hit, or answer something exactly right
to catch, expose, or punish someone for wrongdoing
Beyond the definition
A nail can be many things! Most commonly, it's the hard, protective covering on your fingers and toes—something you might paint or, occasionally, break. But "nail" also refers to a small metal fastener used to join pieces of wood together. A carpenter relies on nails and a hammer to build structures. Finally, to "nail" something means to secure it firmly or to achieve success perfectly—like nailing a difficult presentation!
Think about building a treehouse: you need nails to hold the planks in place, and you want to nail the design so it's sturdy and safe. You might even hit your thumb with the hammer and hurt your nail! It's a surprisingly versatile word that bridges the gap between biology and construction.
The word "nail" has a fascinating range of meanings, stemming from its original association with something sharp and pointed. The most familiar meaning is the hard keratin covering on our fingers and toes—those protective plates we trim, paint, or unfortunately, injure. A broken nail can be surprisingly painful! Biologically, these nails serve to protect our fingertips and aid us in manipulating small objects.
However, "nail" also refers to a small metal spike with a pointed end and a flattened head used as a fastener. Carpenters, builders, and craftspeople rely on nails driven into wood to hold structures together. Different types of nails exist for specialized purposes, such as finishing nails for delicate work or roofing nails for heavy-duty construction.
Beyond these physical objects, "nail" functions as a verb with several distinct meanings. To "nail" something can mean to fasten it securely: "He nailed the picture frame to the wall." More figuratively, it means to achieve success or hit the mark perfectly: "She really nailed that job interview!" It can even mean to definitively catch or expose someone: "The detective finally nailed the suspect with irrefutable evidence." Whether you are talking about anatomy, construction, or accomplishment, "nail" is a word that connects the concepts of protection, fastening, and precision.
Examples
- 1
Hardware
I bent the nail while I was hanging the picture.
- 2
Beauty
She painted her nails bright red for the wedding.
- 3
Attachment
The sign was nailed to the front door.
- 4
Job interview
He nailed the interview and got the job.
- Usagenail + task
do it very well; informal
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Crime context
The police finally nailed the thief after months of searching.
- Usagenail + person
catch them or prove they did something wrong; informal
- 6
Planning
We still need to nail down the date for the meeting.
- Patternnail down + decision/detail
decide or confirm it clearly
- 7
Exact insight
You really hit the nail on the head when you said the problem was communication.
- Phrasehit the nail on the head
say exactly what is true
- 8
Suspense
The final scene was a real nail-biter.
- Phrasenail-biter
an exciting or worrying situation with an uncertain ending
- 9
Business failure
Losing their biggest customer was the final nail in the coffin for the company.
- Phrasethe final nail in the coffin
the last problem that causes something to fail
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- nailnounverb
Forms
- nailspluralnounverb
- nailedpast tenseverbnoun
- nailing-ing formverbnoun