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Definition of toenail
toenail
/ˈtoʊ.neɪl/
toe · nail
Plural:toenails
•Past Simple:toenailed
•Past Participle:toenailed
•Present Participle:toenailing
toenail Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
3
Tier
1
Usage
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• noun
1
The thin, horny, translucent plate covering the upper surface of the end of a toe.
Example
"She decided to paint her toenails bright pink before going to the beach."
• verb
1
To fasten with a nail driven at an angle or slant, typically to secure the end of one board to the face of another in carpentry.
Example
"The carpenter had to toenail the wooden studs to the floor plate because there was no room to nail them straight from the bottom."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for toenailWord Nuance & Usage
As a verb, 'toenail' is a specialized term used primarily in carpentry and construction to describe driving a nail at a diagonal angle.
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'toe' and 'nail'. The verb sense originated in the mid-19th century from the visual resemblance of the angled nails gripping a board to an animal's toes gripping a surface.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Toenail. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/toenail