manicure

1 of 2

noun

man·​i·​cure ˈma-nə-ˌkyu̇r 

1

: a treatment for the care of the hands and fingernails

2

: manicurist

manicure

2 of 2

verb

manicured; manicuring

transitive verb

1

: to do manicure work on

especially : to trim and polish the fingernails of

2

a

: to trim closely and evenly

manicured lawns

b

: groom sense 2

manicured flower beds

Examples of manicure in a Sentence

Noun

She gets a manicure every week or so.

Verb

She spends her weekends working in her garden and manicuring her lawn.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The season presents a brand new selection of colors to provide inspiration for your next manicure. — Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 5 Sep. 2026

The treatment closes with a glam session tailored to the client’s choices, and can include hair styling, makeup, manicure, pedicure and more. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Verb

The Upper East Side’s affluent parents just grow more affluent, their Hamptons lawns more manicured, their strollers taller and more Danish-looking, their immense consumption ever more BPA-free. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026

For Kathleen, the more manicured and pristine that set could be, the more things that could have Buddy’s insignia stamped on them and the more objects that could have faces staring out at Freddy (Delaney Quinn) and her friends, the better. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Latin manus hand + French -icure (as in pédicure pedicure) — more at manual

First Known Use

Noun

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing manicure

• French manicure

Kids Definition

manicure

1 of 2 noun

man·​i·​cure ˈman-ə-ˌkyu̇(ə)r 

: a beauty treatment for the hands and nails

manicure

2 of 2 verb

manicured; manicuring

1

: to give a manicure to

2

: to trim closely and evenly

manicured their lawn

Etymology

Noun

from French manicure "one who gives a beauty treatment for the hands," derived from Latin manus "hand" and Latin cura "care"