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Definition of nail
1a : a horny sheath protecting the upper end of each finger and toe of humans and most other primatesb : a structure (such as a claw) that terminates a digit and corresponds to a nail
2 : a slender usually pointed and headed fastener designed to be pounded in
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of nail in a Sentence
a hammer and some nails
I get my nails done at the beauty salon every other week.
a pair of nail clippers
Recent Examples of nail from the Web
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Kidspace Children’s Museum capitalizes on their appeal with two days of nail-biting races.
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Entering the state final, the Crusaders came were on a nine-game winning streak, including another nail-biter - a 10-9 state semifinal win over Upper Arlington May 31.
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Working on a scale that transforms one-foot measurements into a 16th of an inch, model ship builder Robert Hewitt crafts seamen smaller than a person's finger nail.
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The lesson here is coaches are the nail and the board has the hammer.
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Carl Hagelin scored an empty-net goal with 13.5 seconds to play, putting the final nail in the coffin.
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After cleaning barnacles and algae from the pipes and clipping branches, the team headed to a nearby reef to replant the corals by zip-tying them to nails hammered into the reef.
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The report that American supplies of crude and products jumped the most since 2008 came as the last nail in the coffin.
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One worker stood on a second-story ledge and leaned out over empty space to use a nail gun, while his coworker swept snow off the edge of the roof.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nail'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of nail
Middle English, from Old English nægl; akin to Old High German nagal nail, fingernail, Latin unguis fingernail, toenail, claw, Greek onyx
nail
Definition of nail
transitive verb
1 : to fasten with or as if with a nail
2 : to fix in steady attention nailed his eye on the crack
3a : catch, trapb : to expose usually so as to discreditc : to arrest or punish for an offense
4a : to hit or strike in a forceful manner : whack 1a nailed the ball nailed him on the head with a rockb : to put out (a runner) in baseball
5 : to perform or complete perfectly or impressively nailed a jump shot
6 : to gain or win decisively —often used with down nail down their consent
7 : to settle, establish, or represent clearly and unmistakably —often used with down
8 usually vulgar : to copulate with
nailer
nounExamples of nail in a Sentence
Nail the picture to the wall.
All the doors were nailed shut.
He got nailed by his parents while trying to sneak out of the house.
He got nailed for not paying his taxes.
The FBI has nailed the hackers.
Recent Examples of nail from the Web
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How could anyone nail both the keys and the rhythms with perfect accuracy?
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But so was the dialogue, and this is where Cerda really nails it.
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Marist coach Colleen Biebel also sent Garofalo, who was nailed at home on a perfect relay throw from Barrington shortstop Julia Kozar.
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And making sure Johnson nailed all those backing vocals.
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Some houses had bathtubs, mirrors, furniture, crosses nailed to the wall.
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By nailing down Chance as the festival’s finale, before even his star-making turn at this year’s Grammy Awards, Sasquatch! grabbed one of this year’s marquee live acts for their youthful audience.
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Why does Apple nail what channel the Cavs game is on but Google does not?
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Finally, in 2011, Shell and Eni paid the government $1.3 billion, including about $200 million as a signature bonus -- a onetime fee charged by some oil-producing nations -- to nail down the contract once and for all.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nail'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Before 12th Century
First Known Use of nail
before 12th century
NAIL Defined for English Language Learners
nail
playDefinition of nail for English Language Learners
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: a long, thin piece of metal that is sharp at one end and flat at the other end and that is used chiefly to attach things to wood
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: the hard covering at the end of a finger or toe : a fingernail or toenail
nail
Definition of nail for English Language Learners
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: to attach (something) with a nail
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: to catch (someone) doing something illegal or wrong
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: to arrest or punish (someone) for doing something that is illegal or wrong
NAIL Defined for Kids
Definition of nail for Students
1 : a tough covering protecting the upper end of each finger and toe
2 : a slender pointed piece of metal driven into or through something for fastening
Definition of nail for Students
nailed
;nailing
: to fasten with or as if with a nail
Medical Dictionary
nail
playMedical Definition of nail
1: a horny sheath of thickened and condensed epithelial stratum lucidum that grows out from a vascular matrix of dermis and protects the upper surface of the end of each finger and toe of humans and most other primates and that is strictly homologous with the hoof or claw of other mammals from which it differs chiefly in shape and size—called also nail plate
2: a structure (as a claw) that terminates a digit and corresponds to a nail
3: a rod (as of metal) used to fix the parts of a broken bone in normal relation a medullary nail
Learn More about nail
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See words that rhyme with nail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nail Spanish Central: Translation of nail Nglish: Translation of nail for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of nail for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nail
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