nail
nail
(nāl) noun
1.
A slim, pointed piece of metal hammered into material as a fastener.
2.
a. A fingernail or toenail. b. A claw or talon.
3. Something resembling a nail in shape, sharpness, or use.
4. A measure of length formerly used for cloth, equal to 1/16 yard (5.7 cm).
verb
, transitive
nailed, nailing, nails
1.
To fasten, join, or attach with or as if with a nail.
2.
To cover, enclose, or shut by fastening with nails: nail up a window.
3.
To keep fixed, motionless, or intent: Fear nailed me to my seat.
4.
Slang. a. To stop and seize; catch: Police nailed the suspect. b. To detect and expose: nailed the senator in a lie; nail corruption before it gets out of control.
5. Slang. a. To strike or bring down, especially with something shot or hurled: nail a bird in flight. b. To gain thorough understanding of; master: a brilliant student who nailed all her courses in thermodynamics.
6. Baseball. To put out (a base runner).
phrasal verb.
nail down
1.
To discover or establish conclusively: nailed down the story by checking all the facts.
2.
To win: nailed down another victory in the golf tournament.
[Middle English, from Old English
nægl, fingernail, toenail.]
nail
ʹer noun