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Definitions for Nail

[1] a slender, typically rod-shaped rigid piece of metal, usually in any of numerous standard lengths from a fraction of an inch to several inches and having one end pointed and the other enlarged and flattened, for hammering into or through wood, other building materials, etc., as used in building, in fastening, or in holding separate pieces together.
[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 inches (6.4 cm).
[4] to fasten with a nail or nails: to nail the cover on a box.
[5] to enclose or confine (something) by nailing (often followed by up ): to nail up oranges in a crate.
[6] to make fast or keep firmly in one place or position: Surprise nailed him to the spot.
[7] to accomplish perfectly: the only gymnast to nail the dismount.
[8] Informal . to secure by prompt action; catch or seize: The police nailed him with the goods. to catch (a person) in some difficulty, lie, etc. to detect and expose (a lie, scandal, etc.).
[9] Slang . to hit (a person): He nailed him on the chin with an uppercut in the first round.
[10] to focus intently on an object or subject: She kept her eyes nailed on the suspicious customer.
[11] Obsolete . to stud with or as if with nails.
[12] nail down , to make final; settle once and for all: Signing the contract will nail down our agreement.
[13] hit the nail on the head , to say or do exactly the right thing; be accurate or correct: Your analysis really hit the nail on the head.
[14] nail in someone's /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.
[15] on the nail , Informal . of present interest; under discussion. without delay; on the spot; at once: He was offered a job on the nail.
[16] a fastening device usually made from round or oval wire, having a point at one end and a head at the other
[17] anything resembling such a fastening device, esp in function or shape
[18] the horny plate covering part of the dorsal surface of the fingers or toes See fingernail, toenail Related adjectives: ungual, ungular
[19] the claw of a mammal, bird, or reptile
[20] slang a hypodermic needle, used for injecting drugs
[21] a unit of length, formerly used for measuring cloth, equal to two and a quarter inches
[22] a nail in one's coffin an experience or event that tends to shorten life or hasten the end of something
[23] bite one's nails to chew off the ends of one's fingernails to be worried or apprehensive
[24] hard as nails in tough physical condition without sentiment or feelings
[25] hit the nail on the head to do or say something correct or telling
[26] on the nail (of payments) at once (esp in the phrase pay on the nail )
[27] to attach with or as if with nails
[28] informal to arrest or seize
[29] informal to hit or bring down, as with a shot I nailed the sniper
[30] informal to expose or detect (a lie or liar)
[31] to fix or focus (one's eyes, attention, etc) on an object
[32] to stud with nails

Words related to Nail

attach, tack, hit, whack, pin, catch, hook, pound, join, secure, beat, bind, sock, drive, spike, strike, hold, hammer, nab, seize

Words nearby Nail

nai, nai register, naiad, naic, naida, nail, nail bar, nail bed, nail bomb, nail down, nail enamel

Origin of Nail

before 900; (noun) Middle English nail(l ), nayl(l ), Old English nægl, cognate with Old Frisian neil, Old Saxon, Old High German nagal, Dutch nagel, German Nagel, Old Norse nagl fingernail, all < Germanic *naglaz; akin as derivative to Lithuanian nãgas, nagà hoof, OPruss nage foot, OCS noga leg, foot (Serbo-Croatian nòga, Czech noha, Russian nogá; probably orig. jocular reference to the foot as a hoof), OCS nogŭtĭ, Tocharian A maku, B mekwa fingernail, claw, all < North European Indo-European *Ho nogw h-; further akin to Old Irish ingen, Welsh ewin, Breton ivin < Celtic *ṇgw hīnā, Latin unguis < Italo-Celtic *Ho ngw hi-; Greek ónyx, stem onych-, Armenian ełungn < *Ho nogw h-; (v.) Middle English nail(l )(e ), nayl(l)e(n ), Old English næglian, cognate with Old Saxon neglian, Old High German negilen, Old Norse negla < Germanic *nagl-janan ; compare Gothic ganagljan

Other words from Nail

nail·less , adjective
nail·like , adjective
re·nail , verb (used with object)

Word origin for Nail

Old English nǣgl; related to Old High German nagal nail, Latin unguis fingernail, claw, Greek onux

Synonyms for Nail

attach, hit, pin, tack, whack, beat, bind, drive, hammer, hold, join, pound, secure, sock, spike, strike