manicure

1 of 2

noun

man·​i·​cure ˈma-nə-ˌkyu̇r 

1

: manicurist

2

: a treatment for the care of the hands and fingernails

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

Keeping in line with all the other It girls, her nails appeared bare—kind of like the no makeup-makeup look, but for manicures. —Sam Reed, Glamour, 30 June 2025

Around for nearly a century, the half-moon manicure—in which the lunula of the fingernail is emphasized either with a contrasting color or negative space—comes back into fashion every few years. —Marci Robin, Allure, 25 June 2025

Verb

Morris is fully vaccinated, bathed, manicured and microchipped – all ready for the good life to come. —Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 21 June 2025

The doorman building had a laundry room, a gym and manicured gardens. —Anna Fixsen, New York Times, 29 May 2025

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 1

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"