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Synonyms

fingernail

American  
[fing-ger-neyl] / ˈfɪŋ gərˌneɪl /

noun

  1. the nail at the end of a finger.

  2. Printing. a parenthesis.

fingernail British  
/ ˈfɪŋɡəˌneɪl /

noun

  1. a thin horny translucent plate covering part of the dorsal surface of the end joint of each finger

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fingernail

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; finger, nail

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He grasps the oud’s neck and scratches it with his fingernails before he lets me have it again.

From Literature

He read the rest of the notes about himself as a baby and the series of tests his mother conducted on him, using fingernails and strands of hair to examine his cells under the microscope.

From Literature

He was really worried, and between being worried and short and having his hair all chopped up, Eugene began to twitch and wiggle and bite his fingernails and bang himself on the head.

From Literature

My eyes were wet as I picked at my fingernails.

From Literature

My fingernails dig into my palms, forming tight fists, tighter.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.