nail
/neɪl/ noun B1- The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human).
- The thin, flat type of such a plate on the fingers and toes of humans, chimpanzees and some other primates. · When I'm nervous I bite my nails.
- The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera.
- The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks and other allied birds.
- 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. · Yesterday my shirt got torn after I caught it on a nail.
- 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).
Plural nails
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
Cecil Barker pointed to a box of brass-headed nails upon the mantelpiece.
By a man’s finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs—by each of these things a man’s calling is plainly revealed.
We took a saw and several nails,
Here is Mount Clear, Mount Rusty-Nail,
Other matches
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