nail
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Related to nail: mail
left to right: common, finishing, ring, and roofing nails
nail
(nāl)n.
1. A slim, pointed piece of metal hammered into material as a fastener.
2.
a. A fingernail or toenail.
b. A claw or talon.
3. Something resembling a nail in shape, sharpness, or use.
4. A measure of length formerly used for cloth, equal to 1/16 yard (5.7 centimeters).
tr.v. nailed, nail·ing, nails
Phrasal Verb: 1. To fasten, join, or attach with or as if with a nail.
2. To cover, enclose, or shut by fastening with nails: nail up a window.
3. To keep fixed, motionless, or intent: Fear nailed me to my seat.
4. Slang
a. To stop and seize; catch: Police nailed the suspect.
b. To detect and expose: nailed the senator in a lie; nail corruption before it gets out of control.
5. Slang
a. To strike or bring down: nail a bird in flight; nail a running back.
b. To perform successfully or have noteworthy success in: nailed the dive; nailed the exam.
6. Baseball To put out (a base runner).
7. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.
nail down
1. To discover or establish conclusively: nailed down the story by checking all the facts.
2. To win: nailed down another victory in the golf tournament.
3. To specify or fix: We were finally able to nail down a meeting time.
nail′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
nail
(neɪl)n
1. (Tools) a fastening device usually made from round or oval wire, having a point at one end and a head at the other
2. anything resembling such a fastening device, esp in function or shape
3. (Anatomy) the horny plate covering part of the dorsal surface of the fingers or toes. See fingernail, toenail
4. (Zoology) the claw of a mammal, bird, or reptile
5. slang a hypodermic needle, used for injecting drugs
6. (Units) a unit of length, formerly used for measuring cloth, equal to two and a quarter inches
7. a nail in one's coffin an experience or event that tends to shorten life or hasten the end of something
8. bite one's nails
a. to chew off the ends of one's fingernails
b. to be worried or apprehensive
9. hard as nails
a. in tough physical condition
b. without sentiment or feelings
10. hit the nail on the head to do or say something correct or telling
11. on the nail (of payments) at once (esp in the phrase pay on the nail)
vb (tr)
12. to attach with or as if with nails
13. informal to arrest or seize
14. informal to hit or bring down, as with a shot: I nailed the sniper.
15. informal to expose or detect (a lie or liar)
16. to fix or focus (one's eyes, attention, etc) on an object
17. to stud with nails
[Old English nǣgl; related to Old High German nagal nail, Latin unguis fingernail, claw, Greek onux]
ˈnailer n
ˈnail-less adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
nail
(neɪl)n.
1. a slender, rod-shaped piece of metal, typically having a pointed tip and a flattened head, made to be hammered into wood or other material as a fastener or support.
2. a thin, horny plate, consisting of modified epidermis, growing on the upper side of the end of a finger or toe.
3. a former measure of length for cloth, equal to 2¼ in. (6.4 cm).
v.t. 4. to fasten with a nail or nails.
5. to enclose or shut by nailing (often fol. by up).
6. to keep firmly in one place or position.
7. Informal. to catch or seize.
8. to accomplish perfectly: the only gymnast to nail the dismount.
9. nail down, to make final; settle once and for all.
Idioms: 1. hit the nail on the head, to say or do exactly the right thing.
2. nail in someone's or something's coffin, something that hastens the demise or failure of a person or thing: Every moment's delay is another nail in his coffin.
[before 900; (n.) Middle English nayl(l), Old English nægl, c. Old Frisian neil, Old Saxon, Old High German nagal (German Nagel), Old Norse nagl fingernail; akin to Old Irish ingen, Latin unguis, Greek ónyx]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
nail
Past participle: nailed
Gerund: nailing
| Imperative |
|---|
| nail |
| nail |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
Nail
A linear measurement used for cloth. It equals two and a quarter inches.
1001 Words and Phrases You Never Knew You Didn’t Know by W.R. Runyan Copyright © 2011 by W.R. Runyan
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  nail - horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digitsintegumentary system - the skin and its appendages horny structure, unguis - any rigid body structure composed primarily of keratin matrix - the formative tissue at the base of a nail fingernail - the nail at the end of a finger toenail - the nail at the end of a toe |
| 2. |  nail - a thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastenerbrad - a small nail clinch - the flattened part of a nail or bolt or rivet clout nail, clout - a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to wood doornail - a nail with a large head; formerly used to decorate doors eightpenny nail - a nail 2.5 inches long fastening, holdfast, fastener, fixing - restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place fourpenny nail - a nail 1.5 inches long head - a projection out from one end; "the head of the nail", "a pinhead is the head of a pin" hobnail - a short nail with a thick head; used to protect the soles of boots nailhead - flattened boss on the end of nail opposite to the point sixpenny nail - a nail 2 inches long spike - a large stout nail; "they used spikes to fasten the rails to a railroad tie" staple - a short U-shaped wire nail for securing cables stub nail - a short thick nail tack - a short nail with a sharp point and a large head tenpenny nail - a nail 3 inches long | |
| 3. | nail - a former unit of length for cloth equal to 1/16 of a yard linear measure, linear unit - a unit of measurement of length | |
| Verb | 1. |  nail - attach something somewhere by means of nails; "nail the board onto the wall"attach - cause to be attached |
| 2. |  nail - take into custody; "the police nabbed the suspected criminals" | |
| 3. |  nail - hit hard; "He smashed a 3-run homer"hit - deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; "He hit her hard in the face" | |
| 4. |  nail - succeed in obtaining a position; "He nailed down a spot at Harvard"bring home the bacon, deliver the goods, succeed, win, come through - attain success or reach a desired goal; "The enterprise succeeded"; "We succeeded in getting tickets to the show"; "she struggled to overcome her handicap and won" | |
| 5. |  nail - succeed at easily; "She sailed through her exams"; "You will pass with flying colors"; "She nailed her astrophysics course" | |
| 6. | nail - locate exactly; "can you pinpoint the position of the enemy?"; "The chemists could not nail the identity of the chromosome" | |
| 7. |  nail - complete a pass football, football game - any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal play - participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
nail
noun
verb
on the nail immediately, promptly, at once, straight away, without delay, punctually She insisted her lodgers pay her every Friday, on the nail.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
nail
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
hřebíknehetpřibít
neglsømsømmenagle
ungo
nael
ناخن
kynsinaulanaulata
कीलनाख़ुन
čavaonokatnokti
körömrászegezszegezszög
kuku
nöglnaglinegla
爪釘
못손톱
clavusunguis
nagų brūžiklisnagų lakasnagų šepetukasnagų žirklutėspataikyti kaip pirštu į akį
nagspienaglotnagla
unghie
pribiť
žebeljnohtpribiticvek
čavaoeksergvozdklinгвозд
spikspikanagelnaglar
เล็บ
ناخنکیل
móng
nail
[neɪl]A. N
B. VT
1. (= fix with nails) → clavar, sujetar con clavos
to nail two things together → fijar or unir dos cosas con clavos
to nail two things together → fijar or unir dos cosas con clavos
3. (= expose) [+ lie] → poner al descubierto; [+ rumour] → demostrar la falsedad de
C. CPD nail bomb N → bomba f de metralla
nail clippers NPL → cortauñas m inv
nail enamel (US) N → esmalte m de uñas
nail file N → lima f (para las uñas)
nail polish N → esmalte m de uñas
nail polish remover N → quitaesmalte m
nail scissors NPL → tijeras fpl para las uñas
nail varnish N → esmalte m de uñas
nail varnish remover N → quitaesmalte m
nail clippers NPL → cortauñas m inv
nail enamel (US) N → esmalte m de uñas
nail file N → lima f (para las uñas)
nail polish N → esmalte m de uñas
nail polish remover N → quitaesmalte m
nail scissors NPL → tijeras fpl para las uñas
nail varnish N → esmalte m de uñas
nail varnish remover N → quitaesmalte m
nail down VT + ADV
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
nail
[ˈneɪl] n
(metal) → clou m
to be as hard as nails → être coriace
to hit the nail on the head → mettre dans le mille
to be as hard as nails → être coriace
to hit the nail on the head → mettre dans le mille
vt
[+ object] → clouer
to nail sth to sth → clouer qch à qch
There were signs nailed to the trees all along Bear Creek → Il y avait des pancartes clouées aux arbres d'un bout à l'autre de Bear Creek.
to nail sth on sth → clouer qch sur qch
to be nailed shut → être condamné(e)
The windows were all nailed shut → Les fenêtres étaient toutes condamnées.
to nail sth to sth → clouer qch à qch
There were signs nailed to the trees all along Bear Creek → Il y avait des pancartes clouées aux arbres d'un bout à l'autre de Bear Creek.
to nail sth on sth → clouer qch sur qch
to be nailed shut → être condamné(e)
The windows were all nailed shut → Les fenêtres étaient toutes condamnées.
[+ person] → coincer
to nail sb for sth [+ crime] → coincer qn pour qch
They managed to nail him for several robberies → Ils ont réussi à le coincer pour plusieurs vols.
to nail sb for sth [+ crime] → coincer qn pour qch
They managed to nail him for several robberies → Ils ont réussi à le coincer pour plusieurs vols.
nail down
vt sep (= put one's finger on) → mettre le doigt sur
There's something odd about him but I can't nail it down → Il y a quelque chose de bizarre chez lui mais je n'arrive pas à mettre le doigt dessus.
There's something odd about him but I can't nail it down → Il y a quelque chose de bizarre chez lui mais je n'arrive pas à mettre le doigt dessus.
[+ source, time] → situer
Could you nail down the source of this tension? → Pouvez-vous situer la source de cette tension?
Could you nail down the source of this tension? → Pouvez-vous situer la source de cette tension?
[+ lid, floorboard] → clouernail-biting [ˈneɪlbaɪtɪŋ] adj [film] → à suspense, haletant(e); [match, finish] → haletant(e)nail bomb n → bombe f à clousnail brush nailbrush [ˈneɪlbrʌʃ] n → brosse f à onglesnail clippers npl → coupe-ongles m invnail file nailfile [ˈneɪlfaɪl] n → lime f à onglesnail polish n → vernis m à onglesnail polish remover n → dissolvant mnail scissors npl → ciseaux mpl à onglesnail varnish n (British) → vernis m à onglesnail varnish remover n → dissolvant m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
nail
n
(Anat) → Nagel m
(Tech) → Nagel m; as hard as nails → knallhart (inf), → (unheimlich) hart; (physically) → zäh wie Leder; on the nail (Brit fig inf) → auf der Stelle, sofort; cash on the nail (Brit inf) → Bargeld nt; to hit the nail (right) on the head (fig) → den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen; to drive a nail into somebody’s coffin (fig) to be a nail in somebody’s coffin (fig) → ein Nagel zu jds Sarg sein
vt
(= fix with nails, put nails into) → nageln; to nail something to the floor/door/wall → etw an den Boden/an die Tür/Wand nageln, etw auf dem Boden/an der Tür/Wand festnageln; nail this on here → nageln Sie das hier an or fest; he nailed his opponent to the canvas → er pinnte seinen Gegner auf die Matte (inf)
nail
in cpds → Nagel-;nailbiter
n
→ Nägelkauer(in) m(f)
nail-biting
n → Nägelkauen nt
adj (inf) suspense → atemlos; match → spannungsgeladen; it’s a nail time for them → sie machen eine spannungsreiche Zeit durch
nailbrush
n → Nagelbürste f
nail clippers
pl → Nagelzwicker m
nailfile
n → Nagelfeile f
nail hardener
n → Nagelhärter m
nail polish
n → Nagellack m
nail polish remover
n → Nagellackentferner m
nail scissors
pl → Nagelschere f
nail varnish
n (Brit) → Nagellack m
nail varnish remover
n → Nagellackentferner m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
nail
[neɪl]1. n
b. (metal) → chiodo
to hit the nail on the head (fig) → cogliere or colpire nel segno
to pay cash on the nail (Brit) → pagare subito e in contanti, pagare sull'unghia (fam)
to hit the nail on the head (fig) → cogliere or colpire nel segno
to pay cash on the nail (Brit) → pagare subito e in contanti, pagare sull'unghia (fam)
2. vt (also) (fig) (fam) (criminal) → inchiodare
to nail the lid on a box → inchiodare il coperchio di una cassa
to nail the lid on a box → inchiodare il coperchio di una cassa
nail down vt + adv → fissare con chiodi, inchiodare (fig) to nail sb down to a date → costringere qn a una data
to nail sb down to a promise → costringere qn a fare una promessa
to nail sb down to a price → costringere qn ad accettare un prezzo
to nail sb down to a promise → costringere qn a fare una promessa
to nail sb down to a price → costringere qn ad accettare un prezzo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
nail
(neil) noun1. a piece of horn-like substance which grows over the ends of the fingers and toes to protect them. I've broken my nail; toe-nails; Don't bite your finger-nails.
2. a thin pointed piece of metal used to fasten pieces of wood etc together. He hammered a nail into the wall and hung a picture on it.
verb to fasten with nails. He nailed the picture to the wall.
ˈnail-brush noun a small brush used for cleaning one's nails.
ˈnail-file noun a small instrument with a rough surface, used for smoothing or shaping the edges of one's finger-nails.
ˈnail-polish, ˈnail-varnish nouns a substance used to colour and/or varnish one's nails.
ˈnail-scissors noun plural scissors for trimming one's nails.
hit the nail on the head to be absolutely accurate (in one's description of something or someone, in an estimate of something etc).
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
nail
→ ظُفْر, مِسْمَارٌ hřebík, nehet negl, søm Nagel νύχι uña kynsi, naula clou, ongle čavao, nokti chiodo, unghia 爪, 釘 못, 손톱 nagel, spijker negl paznokieć prego, unha гвоздь, ноготь naglar, spik เล็บ çivi, tırnak móng 指甲Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
nail
n. uña de los dedos del pie o de las manos;
1.
ingrown ___ → uñero, ___ encarnada;
___ polish → esmalte de las uñas;
___ infection → infección de;
___ scratch → arañazo;
___ biting → comerse la uñas
2. clavo. V.: pin.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
nail
n (anat) uña; (carpentry) clavo; ingrown — uña encarnada, uña enterrada (esp. Mex); — clippers cortaúñas m; — file lima de or para uñas; — polish esmalte m de or para uñas; — scissors tijeras de or para uñasEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.