manicure

American  

[man-i-kyoor] / ˈmæn ɪˌkyʊər /

noun

1. a cosmetic treatment of the hands and fingernails, including trimming and polishing of the nails and removing cuticles.

2. a manicurist.

---

verb (used with object)

manicured, manicuring

1. to take care of (the hands and fingernails); apply manicure treatment to.

2. to trim or cut meticulously.

   to manicure a lawn.

verb (used without object)

manicured, manicuring

1. to give a manicure.

manicure British  

/ ˈmænɪˌkjʊə /

noun

1. care of the hands and fingernails, involving shaping the nails, removing cuticles, etc

2. another word for manicurist

---

verb

1. to care for (the hands and fingernails) in this way

2. (tr) to trim neatly

Other Word Forms

• unmanicured
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of manicure

1875–80; < French < Latin mani- (combining form of manus hand) + cūra care

Explanation

When you get a manicure, your fingernails get filed and shaped and possibly painted red. You might get a manicure at a spa or salon as a way to pamper yourself. You can pay a professional to give you a manicure, or you can do a manicure at home with a nail file and a bottle of nail polish. Some people get manicures for fun and relaxation, while others don't feel well dressed without the perfect nails that a manicure provides. In French the word manicure means "care of the hands," and it comes from the Latin word for "hand," manus.

Example Sentences

There’s British Tina, Pageboy Tina, French Manicure Tina, Tina with the scorpion tattoo, even the Anti-Tina, a bit of fun tucked among Park’s coded riddles.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025

According to Nails: The History of the Modern Manicure, archaeologists unearthed a solid gold manicure set in southern Babylonia, dating to 3,200 BC, that was apparently part of combat equipment.

From The Guardian • Jan. 27, 2021

Manicure salons all over America probably enjoy a booming business around this time every year, because it’s nail-biting time for parents of high school students awaiting acceptance letters from college admissions departments.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2019

They could get a Manicure from a Mrs. Rosella Wood, who was also available for Massages.

From The New Yorker • May 30, 2016

Then we may become once more Ladies, as in days of yore, Lay aside the brooms and pails, Manicure our broken nails, Try the last complexion cream— What a dream Of bliss!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 152, February 7, 1917 by Various

Related Words

• beautify