Pronunciation: /neɪl/

Definitions of nail

noun the hard outer covering at the end of a finger or toe

Example Sentences

A1 I need a nail to hang up this picture.

A2 She accidentally hit her thumb with a nail while hammering.

B1 The carpenter used a nail gun to secure the boards together.

B2 He carefully hammered the nail into the wall to hang the mirror.

C1 The artist used nails of different sizes to create a unique sculpture.

C2 The forensic expert found a nail at the crime scene that matched the suspect's tool set.

verb to fasten or secure with nails

Example Sentences

A1 She nailed the picture to the wall.

A2 I need to nail down the details before we can proceed.

B1 The presentation was well-prepared and he really nailed it.

B2 Despite the difficult circumstances, she managed to nail the performance.

C1 He has a talent for nailing complex concepts and explaining them clearly.

C2 The author's ability to nail the emotional depth of the characters is truly remarkable.

Examples of nail in a Sentence

formal She carefully painted each nail with a different color polish.

informal I need to trim my nails before they get too long.

slang I love that nail art you got done at the salon.

figurative He really nailed the presentation at work today.

Grammatical Forms of nail

past tense

nailed

plural

nails

comparative

more nail

superlative

most nail

present tense

nails

future tense

will nail

perfect tense

have nailed

continuous tense

is nailing

singular

nail

positive degree

nail

infinitive

to nail

gerund

nailing

participle

nailed

Origin and Evolution of nail

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'nail' originated from Old English 'nægl', which is derived from Proto-Germanic 'naglaz'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a thin pointed piece of metal used for fastening objects together, the meaning of 'nail' has evolved to include the hard covering on the upper surface of the tip of a finger or toe.