fingernail

fingernail — noun

1. the thin, flat layer of hard tissue that grows on the upper end of every finger,

1.nounA2
Definition

the thin, flat layer of hard tissue that grows on the upper end of every finger, protecting the skin underneath and making it easier to hold or pick up small objects

Example

Quinn bit his fingernails nervously while waiting for the exam results.

possessive determiner + fingernails (plural)

The nurse noticed that Tamar's fingernails were clean and neatly trimmed.

adjective + fingernails: clean / trimmed

Common collocations
  • bite your fingernails
  • cut / trim your fingernails
  • paint your fingernails
  • long fingernails
  • short fingernails
  • dirty fingernails
  • fingernail clippers
Synonyms
  • nail

    broader term — can also refer to toenails; fingernail specifies which nail

Grammar Patterns

typically used in plural

Usage Note

Fingernail is most often used in the plural (fingernails) because people typically refer to all ten at once or to the general condition of their nails.

Idioms

hang on by your fingernails

idiom

to continue to manage a difficult situation, such as keeping a job or position, with great effort and difficulty

The small company was hanging on by its fingernails after losing its biggest customer.

Tyler hung on by his fingernails to finish the project before the deadline.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Fingernail refers specifically to the hard layer of tissue at the end of each finger, while nail can also mean toenail or metal fasteners — context makes the meaning clear. Fingertip describes the soft padded end of the finger itself, not the hard covering. For example, 'She cut her fingernail too short' refers to the hard tissue; 'She touched the surface with her fingertip' refers to the soft pad. Use fingernail when you need to be precise about which nail you mean.

nail ↗fingertip

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Fingernail comes from Old English fingernegl, a compound of 'finger' (one of the five digit ends of the hand) and 'negl' (nail or claw). The word has kept the same basic form and meaning for over a thousand years.