nail
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.the hard, thin part that grows on the ends of your fingers and toes.
n.the horny, keratinous plate covering the dorsal surface of the distal phalanges of fingers and toes.
Simple“She painted her nails a bright red color for the party.”
In context“The doctor examined the patient's nails for signs of discoloration, which can sometimes indicate an underlying nutritional deficiency.”
Synonymsfingernailtoenail - 02 A2 Elementary
n.a small, thin piece of metal with a sharp point and a flat head, used to hold wood together.
n.a slender, pointed metal fastener designed to be driven into wood or other materials by impact.
Simple“He used a hammer to drive a nail into the wall for the picture frame.”
In context“The carpenter selected galvanized nails to ensure the outdoor decking would remain secure despite exposure to moisture and salt air.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to join things together using metal nails.
v.to fasten or attach objects using metal nails; typically transitive requiring a direct object.
Simple“We need to nail these boards together to make the fence strong.”
In context“The workers spent the afternoon nailing the plywood sheets to the subfloor before the carpet installers arrived.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to do something very successfully or perfectly.
v.to perform a task or achieve a goal with complete success or precision.
Simple“You really nailed that presentation; everyone was very impressed.”
In context“Despite her nerves, she absolutely nailed the final high note, earning a standing ovation from the entire auditorium.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to catch someone doing something wrong or to arrest a criminal.
v.to apprehend a person or expose them in the act of a crime or deception.
Simple“The police finally managed to nail the thief after a long investigation.”
In context“The investigative journalists worked for months to nail the corrupt politician for his involvement in the bribery scandal.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.a very informal and sometimes rude way to talk about having sex.
v.to engage in sexual intercourse; typically used with a male subject and often carries a predatory or aggressive connotation.
Simple“He bragged to his friends about nailing the girl he met at the bar.”
In context“The dialogue in the film was criticized for its frequent use of vulgar terms like 'nailing' to describe casual encounters.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is highly informal and can be seen as disrespectful or misogynistic; learners should avoid using it in polite or professional company.
From Middle English nail, nayl, Old English næġl, from Proto-West Germanic nagl, from Proto-Germanic naglaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nogʰ- (“nail”). Cognates Compare North Frisian Nail (“nail”), Saterland Frisian Nail (“nail”), West Frisian neil, Low German Nagel, Dutch nagel, German Nagel, Danish negl, Swedish nagel, Finnish naula (“nail”), Estonian nael (“nail”), (compare Irish ionga, Latin unguis, Albanian nyell (“ankle, hard part of a limb”), Lithuanian nagas, Russian нога́ (nogá, “foot, leg”), но́готь (nógotʹ, “nail”), Ancient Greek ὄνυξ (ónux), Persian ناخن (nâxon), Sanskrit नख (nakhá).
From Middle English naylen, from Old English næġlan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.