nail

noun

1. 1

   The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human).

2. 2

   The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human). The thin, flat type of such a plate on the fingers and toes of humans, chimpanzees and some other primates.

   When I'm nervous I bite my nails.

3. 3

   The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera.

4. 4

   The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks and other allied birds.

5. 5

   A spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials. The nail is generally driven through two or more layers of material by means of impacts from a hammer or other device. It is then held in place by friction.

   Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

6. 6

   A round pedestal on which merchants once carried out their business, such as the four nails outside The Exchange, Bristol.

7. 7

   An archaic English unit of length equivalent to ¹⁄₂₀ of an ell or ¹⁄₁₆ of a yard (2+¹⁄₄ inches or 5.715 cm).

verb

1. 1

   To fix (an object) to another object using a nail.

   He nailed the placard to the post.

2. 2

   To drive a nail.

   He used the ax head for nailing.

3. 3

   To stud or boss with nails, or as if with nails.

   The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold.

4. 4

   slangTo catch.

   I pray you now send me some dub, / A bottle or two to the needy. / I beg you won't bring it yourself, / The harman is at the Old-Bailey; / I'd rather you'd send it behalf, / For, if they twig you they'll nail you.

   Military Intelligence seems to be on the spot in a quiet sort of way. I just met a G-2 slue-foot and he was a most efficient guy! They're keeping low, I think, until they nail their man.

   Dammit, John, I'm tired of this 'Demolition Man' stuff! […] Now, I know you've been trying to nail this psycho for two years, but try remembering a little thing called official police procedure.

   we'll nail the sophist to it, if we can get him on that charge;

5. 5

   slangTo expose as a sham.

6. 6

   slangTo accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.

   I really nailed that test.

   The chief executive and founder of Meta used his new Threads account to say Twitter had not “nailed” its opportunity to become a mega app and that his copycat version would be “focusing on kindness”.

7. 7

   slangTo hit (a target) effectively with some weapon.

   Fly-half Ruaridh Jackson departed early with injury but Chris Paterson nailed a penalty from wide out left to give Scotland an early lead, and Jackson's replacement Dan Parks added three more points with a penalty which skimmed over the crossbar.

8. 8

   slangOf a male, to engage in sexual intercourse with.

   Allison Reynolds: I'm a nymphomaniac. […] The only person I told was my shrink. / Andrew Clark: And what did he do when you told him? / Allison Reynolds: He nailed me.

   There’s a benefit gala at the Boston Pops tonight, and... well, I’m trying to nail the flautist.

9. 9

   To spike, as a cannon.

   That the Ordinance be not nayled, nor the munition fiered.

10. 10

    To nail down: to make certain, or confirm.

11. 11

    obsoleteTo steal.

    Loud was the laughter at this and other remarks about nailing "stooks" (silk pocket handkerchiefs), "clouts" (cotton ditto), german sausages, &c.

Forms

plural

nails

past tense

nailed

past participle

nailed

present participle

nailing

third person singular

nails