nail

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 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.oftenspecifically

• When I'm nervous I bite my nails.

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

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

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.

• Yesterday my shirt got torn after I caught it on a nail.

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

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).

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

• He nailed the placard to the post.

To drive a nail.intransitive

• He used the ax head for nailing.

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

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

To catch.slang

• 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.

To expose as a sham.slangtransitive

To accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.slangtransitive

• I really nailed that test.

To hit (a target) effectively with some weapon.slangtransitive

• 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 cro

Of a male, to engage in sexual intercourse with.slangtransitivevulgar

• 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.

To spike, as a cannon.

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

To nail down: to make certain, or confirm.transitive