nail

play

noun \ ˈnāl \

Definition of nail

1 a :a horny sheath protecting the upper end of each finger and toe of humans and most other primates

b :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

See nail defined for English-language learners

See nail defined for kids

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

Women wear loose clothing, cover their hair and forgo makeup and nail polish to achieve a state of humility and spiritual purity.

— omar akour and ahmed hatem, chicagotribune.com, "More than 1.7 million Muslims gather for start of hajj," 30 Aug. 2017
Grab the nail polish, slice up some cucumbers and have a spa day.

— fresh u, Teen Vogue, "12 Fun Things to Do With Your Roommate the First Month of College," 29 Aug. 2017
See photos from the shoot, below: Related: Kim Kardashian's Biggest Regret Is a Photo of Her Nails, and,

— andrea park, Glamour, "Kim Kardashian West Channels Jackie O in a Photoshoot for Interview Magazine," 28 Aug. 2017
How-to: felt shelf covers Measuring tape Wool felt Fabric scissors Balsa-wood strip, 1 inch square Velcro tape Handsaw 1 1⁄4-inch nailsHammer Lightweight wood-trim strip (optional) White paint (optional) Wood glue (optional) 1.

— martha stewart, star-telegram, "Martha’s projects tackle headboards, backpacks and savory snacks," 26 Aug. 2017
Chinese immigrant Polly Guo leaves one morning for her low-paying job at a nail salon.

— kaite mediatore stover, kansascity, "‘The Leavers’ gives FYI Book Club readers a glimpse into immigrants’ plight," 25 Aug. 2017
Mixing reflective metallics and subdued matte shades, the assortment makes a bold statement from eyes to lips to nails.

— vanityfair.com, "Summer Send Off: The Best Beauty Buys this September," 18 Aug. 2017
Carter was territorial about his property, Oliver said, and would place nails under the tires of cars that were parked near his home.

— erin mccarthy, Philly.com, "Long-running West Goshen neighborhood rancor ends in killing," 10 Aug. 2017
Also, Sean Spicer, whom the president* really should have permitted to meet the pope, has driven a couple nails into the coffin.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Jeff Flake's Republican Heresy Doesn't Go Nearly Far Enough," 1 Aug. 2017

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

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

nail

verb

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

3 a :catch, trap

b :to expose usually so as to discredit

c :to arrest or punish for an offense

4 a :to hit or strike in a forceful manner :whack 1a

nailed the ball

nailed him on the head with a rock

b :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

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nailer

noun

See nail defined for English-language learners

Examples 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

How could anyone nail both the keys and the rhythms with perfect accuracy?

— david pogue, Scientific American, "Should Artists Reveal How Much They Let Technology Make Creative Choices?," 3 July 2017
But so was the dialogue, and this is where Cerda really nails it.

— nina metz, chicagotribune.com, "Campy 'Golden Girls' spoof misses the mark," 20 June 2017
Marist coach Colleen Biebel also sent Garofalo, who was nailed at home on a perfect relay throw from Barrington shortstop Julia Kozar.

— tony baranek, Daily Southtown, "Angela Zedak, Marist look ahead after losing in Class 4A third-place game," 10 June 2017
And making sure Johnson nailed all those backing vocals.

— matt wake, AL.com, "Aerosmith's secret weapon: Alabama native on tour with rock legends," 9 June 2017
Some houses had bathtubs, mirrors, furniture, crosses nailed to the wall.

— Washington Post, "Blighted Baltimore homes are razed, along with some memories," 5 June 2017
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.

— charles r. cross, The Seattle Times, "In an area bloated with festivals, Sasquatch! still stands out," 24 May 2017
Why does Apple nail what channel the Cavs game is on but Google does not?

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "20 Questions With Google's Assistant and Apple's Siri," 18 May 2017
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.

— chiara albanese, Bloomberg.com, "How Shell, Eni Got Enmeshed in $1 Billion Scandal: QuickTake Q&A," 9 May 2017

nail Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, knock, hit, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap

Antonyms

camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask

Related Words

batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough; scuff; bunt, flick, stroke, tap; bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp; bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump [slang], fell, floor, knock down, level; rabbit-punch, sucker punch; cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip; bean, brain, conk, skull

Near Antonyms

confuse, muddle, muddy, unsettle

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

NAIL Defined for English Language Learners

nail

play

noun

Definition of nail for English Language Learners

: 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
: the hard covering at the end of a finger or toe : a fingernail or toenail

nail

verb

Definition of nail for English Language Learners

: to attach (something) with a nail
: to catch (someone) doing something illegal or wrong
: to arrest or punish (someone) for doing something that is illegal or wrong

NAIL Defined for Kids

nail

play

noun \ ˈnāl \

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

nail

verb

Definition of nail for Students

nailed; nailing

:to fasten with or as if with a nail

Medical Dictionary

nail

play

noun \ ˈnā(ə)l \

medical 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