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nail

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: nail

1
nv
a thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastener
attach something somewhere by means of nails
2
n
horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
3
n
a former unit of length for cloth equal to 1/16 of a yard
4
v
take into custody
5
v
hit hard
6
v
succeed at easily
7
v
locate exactly
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: nail
1

n a thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastener

Types:
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brad
a small nail
clout, clout nail
a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to wood
doornail
a nail with a large head; formerly used to decorate doors
eightpenny nail
a nail 2.5 inches long
fourpenny nail
a nail 1.5 inches long
hobnail
a short nail with a thick head; used to protect the soles of boots
sixpenny nail
a nail 2 inches long
spike
a large stout nail
staple
a short U-shaped wire nail for securing cables
stub nail
a short thick nail
tack
a short nail with a sharp point and a large head
tenpenny nail
a nail 3 inches long
carpet tack
used to nail down carpets
drawing pin, pushpin, thumbtack
a tack for attaching papers to a bulletin board or drawing board
tintack
tack or small nail of tinned iron
Type of:
fastener, fastening, fixing, holdfast
restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place

v attach something somewhere by means of nails

nail the board onto the wall”
Type of:
attach
cause to be attached
2

n horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits

Types:
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fingernail
the nail at the end of a finger
toenail
the nail at the end of a toe
thumbnail
the nail of the thumb
ingrown toenail, onyxis
toenail having its free tip or edges embedded in the surrounding flesh
Type of:
horny structure, unguis
any rigid body structure composed primarily of keratin
3

n a former unit of length for cloth equal to 1/16 of a yard

Type of:
linear measure, linear unit
a unit of measurement of length
4

v take into custody

Synonyms:
apprehend, arrest, collar, cop, nab, pick up
Type of:
clutch, prehend, seize
take hold of; grab
5

v hit hard

Synonyms:
blast, boom, smash
Type of:
hit
deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument
6

v succeed at easily

“She nailed her astrophysics course”
Synonyms:
ace, breeze through, pass with flying colors, sail through, sweep through
Type of:
make it, pass
go successfully through a test or a selection process

v succeed in obtaining a position

“He nailed down a spot at Harvard”
Synonyms:
nail down, peg
Type of:
bring home the bacon, come through, deliver the goods, succeed, win
attain success or reach a desired goal

v complete a pass

Synonyms:
complete
Type of:
play
participate in games or sport
7

v locate exactly

“The chemists could not nail the identity of the chromosome”
Synonyms:
pinpoint
Type of:
locate, turn up
discover the location of; determine the place of; find by searching or examining
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