nail

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /neɪl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular nail

Plural nails

A nail in some wood

1. A nail is a small, long, thin sharp metal thing for holding wood together. People put it into the wood by hitting it with a hammer.

   I need some nails to fix the roof.

   

   A person's fingernails

2. A nail is the thick, hard part at the ends of fingers and toes.

   I broke the top off my finger nail and it was very painful.

Verb

Plain form nail

Third-person singular nails

Past tense nailed

Past participle nailed

Present participle nailing

1. If you nail something to something else, you use a nail to join them.

   He nailed the set of shelves onto the wall.

2. When someone gets an idea just right, we say they nailed it or "hit the nail on the head".

   I think you've nailed the reason why this isn't working.