How do you use the word "nail" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "nail": We found a nail stuck in the tire. Drive the nail into the board.

Nail Meaning

/neɪl/

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounThe thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.

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

Sentence Examples

We found a nail stuck in the tire.

Drive the nail into the board.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

collar boom blast

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

She tried to ____ the final shot and win the game, but missed by inches.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

I need to find a small ____ to hang this picture on the wall, as the adhesive tape I used earlier wasn't strong enough to hold the frame.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English nail, nayl, Old English næġl, from Proto-West Germanic *nagl, from Proto-Germanic *naglaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nogʰ- (“nail”). Cognates Compare North Frisian Nail (“nail”), Saterland Frisian Nail (“nail”), West Frisian neil, German and Low German Nagel, Dutch and Swedish nagel, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål negl, Norwegian Nynorsk nagl, Finnish naula (“nail”), Estonian nael (“nail”), (compare Irish ionga, Latin unguis, Albanian nyell (“ankle, hard part of a limb”), Lithuanian nagas, Russian нога́ (nogá, “foot, leg”), но́готь (nógotʹ, “nail”), Ancient Greek ὄνυξ (ónux), Persian ناخن (nâxon), Sanskrit नख (nakhá).

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"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." — 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:

"The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold." — 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf: Or, The Lady in the Arbour. A Vision.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

"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." — 1765, “A Song in High Life”, in The Merry Medley, volume 1, London: W. Hoggard, page 35:

"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." — 1943 October 9, The Australian Women's Weekly, page 3, column 4:

"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." — 1993, Peter M. Lenkov, Robert Reneau, Daniel Waters, Demolition Man, spoken by Captain Healy (Steve Kahan):

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