Dictionary entry details
• NAIL (noun)
Meaning:
Horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
Classified under:
Nouns denoting body parts
Hypernyms ("nail" is a kind of...):
horny structure; unguis (any rigid body structure composed primarily of keratin)
Meronyms (parts of "nail"):
half-moon; lunula; lunule (the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human fingernail)
matrix (the formative tissue at the base of a nail)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "nail"):
fingernail (the nail at the end of a finger)
toenail (the nail at the end of a toe)
Holonyms ("nail" is a part of...):
integumentary system (the skin and its appendages)
dactyl; digit (a finger or toe in human beings or corresponding body part in other vertebrates)
Meaning:
A thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastener
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("nail" is a kind of...):
fastener; fastening; fixing; holdfast (restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place)
Meronyms (parts of "nail"):
clinch (the flattened part of a nail or bolt or rivet)
head (a projection out from one end)
nailhead (flattened boss on the end of nail opposite to the point)
shank; stem (cylinder forming a long narrow part of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "nail"):
brad (a small nail)
tenpenny nail (a nail 3 inches long)
tack (a short nail with a sharp point and a large head)
stub nail (a short thick nail)
staple (a short U-shaped wire nail for securing cables)
spike (a long metal nail)
sixpenny nail (a nail 2 inches long)
hobnail (a short nail with a thick head; used to protect the soles of boots)
fourpenny nail (a nail 1.5 inches long)
eightpenny nail (a nail 2.5 inches long)
doornail (a nail with a large head; formerly used to decorate doors)
clout; clout nail (a short nail with a flat head; used to attach sheet metal to wood)
Meaning:
A former unit of length for cloth equal to 1/16 of a yard
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("nail" is a kind of...):
linear unit (a unit of measurement of length)
• NAIL (verb)
Meaning:
Attach something somewhere by means of nails
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
nail the board onto the wall
Hypernyms (to "nail" is one way to...):
attach (cause to be attached)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something PP
Also:
nail down (define clearly)
Meaning:
Take into custody
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
collar; arrest; apprehend; cop; nab; nail; pick up
Context example:
the police nabbed the suspected criminals
Hypernyms (to "nail" is one way to...):
clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Hit hard
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
smash; boom; blast; nail
Context example:
He smashed a 3-run homer
Hypernyms (to "nail" is one way to...):
hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Succeed in obtaining a position
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
nail down; peg; nail
Context example:
He nailed down a spot at Harvard
Hypernyms (to "nail" is one way to...):
bring home the bacon; come through; deliver the goods; succeed; win (attain success or reach a desired goal)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Succeed at easily
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
ace; breeze through; sweep through; pass with flying colors; sail through; nail
Context examples:
She sailed through her exams / You will pass with flying colors / She nailed her astrophysics course
Hypernyms (to "nail" is one way to...):
make it; pass (go successfully through a test or a selection process)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Locate exactly
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
pinpoint; nail
Context examples:
can you pinpoint the position of the enemy? / The chemists could not nail the identity of the chromosome
Hypernyms (to "nail" is one way to...):
locate; turn up (discover the location of; determine the place of; find by searching or examining)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Meaning:
Complete a pass
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
complete; nail
Hypernyms (to "nail" is one way to...):
play (participate in games or sport)
Domain category:
football; football game (any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
