plural nails
1
: 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
a hammer and some nails
2
: the hard covering at the end of a finger or toe : a fingernail or toenail
I get my nails done at the beauty salon every other week.
a pair of nail clippers
nails; nailed; nailing
1
always followed by an adverb, adjective, or preposition
: to attach (something) with a nail
Nail the picture to the wall.
nailing [=hammering] the boards together
All the doors were nailed shut.
The desks and chairs had been nailed (down) to the floor.
2
informal
a
: to catch (someone) doing something illegal or wrong
He got nailed by his parents while trying to sneak out of the house.
b
: to arrest or punish (someone) for doing something that is illegal or wrong
He got nailed for not paying his taxes.
The FBI has nailed the hackers.
3
informal
: to hit (someone or something) forcefully
Someone nailed [=whacked] him on the head with a rock.
4
US, informal
: to make or do (something) in a perfect or impressive way
She nailed a three-point shot in the final seconds of the game.
You really nailed that song. It sounded great!
Cite this Entry
“Nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/nail. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
