toenail

Everyday

The hard, thin, flat covering on the top of the end of each toe, like a fingernail but on your foot. tree →

In the lessons

In science and health, toenails are made of keratin, the same tough stuff as hair and fingernails; they keep growing, more slowly than fingernails, so they need cutting. In hygiene lessons we learn to cut toenails straight across, not too short, so they do not grow into the skin (an ingrown toenail), and to keep feet clean and dry. Phrases: "cut your toenails", "an ingrown toenail", "paint your toenails", "a stubbed toe and a broken toenail".

Examples

• I have ten toenails, one on each toe. tree →
• Mum cut my toenails after my bath. tree →
• Cut toenails straight across so they do not hurt. tree →
• My big toenail went black when I dropped a brick on it. tree →
• Toenails grow more slowly than fingernails. tree →
• She painted her toenails pink for the party. tree →
• The cat's claws are like very sharp toenails. tree →
• An ingrown toenail can be sore, so tell an adult. tree →

Note

One word, no space or hyphen: toenail. "Toe" is spelt with an e; do not confuse with "tow" (to pull). Most people have ten toenails; in maths problems, a family of 4 people has 4 × 10 = 40 toenails. Do not bite or pull toenails — use clippers.