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# fingernail

noun (a fingernail, fingernails)

«fingernail» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

The hard thin layer that covers and protects the top of the tip of each finger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science, fingernails are made of keratin, the same stuff as hair and animal claws and horns; they keep growing, so we cut them. In hygiene lessons, germs and dirt hide under fingernails, so scrub them when washing hands and keep them short; biting nails spreads germs. Phrases: «cut your fingernails», «bite your fingernails», «under your fingernails», «hang on by your fingernails» (only just manage).

### Examples

- Scrub under your fingernails when you wash your hands. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x1)
- Mum cut the baby's tiny fingernails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x2)
- There was mud under my fingernails after gardening. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x3)
- Try not to bite your fingernails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x4)
- Fingernails grow only about three millimetres a month. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x5)
- She painted her fingernails pink for the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x6)
- Fingernails are made of the same stuff as hair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x7)
- Scratching a blackboard with fingernails makes a horrible noise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/#x8)

### Note

Countable; one word. Also simply «nail»; toes have «toenails». Myth: nails and hair do not keep growing after death. In maths problems, ten fingers means ten fingernails.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fingernail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fingernail/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fingernail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fingernail.html) on Mova free.