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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

toenail

TOH-nayl

Toenail (noun) means the hard, flat covering on the upper surface of the tip of a toe. Example: “She painted her toenails bright red before the holiday.”

noun
1
The hard, flat covering on the upper surface of the tip of a toe.
"She painted her toenails bright red before the holiday."
verb
1
To join two pieces of wood by driving a nail in at an angle through both.
"The carpenter toenailed the stud into the floor plate."

How to use toenail

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe hard covering on top of a toe; in carpentry, also a verb meaning to nail two boards together at an angle.

Word forms

toenailed past tense, toenails plural, toenails singular

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She painted her _____ bright red before the holiday.

Etymology

A straightforward compound of toe and nail.

toe

Related words

Rhymes for toenail

See all rhymes for toenail →

Frequently asked questions

What does “toenail” mean?

The word “toenail” means the hard, flat covering on the upper surface of the tip of a toe. In plain terms, the hard covering on top of a toe; in carpentry, also a verb meaning to nail two boards together at an angle.

How do you pronounce “toenail”?

“Toenail” is pronounced TOH-nayl (/ˈtəʊˌneɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “toenail” in a sentence?

Here is “toenail” used in a sentence: “She painted her toenails bright red before the holiday.”

What part of speech is “toenail”?

Depending on how it is used, “toenail” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “toenail” have?

“Toenail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hard, flat covering on the upper surface of the tip of a toe.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial