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brad

brad

460 7.8
A small thin nail with a raised head used to hold thin pieces of wood together
  • noun
  • /bræd/
translation icon : clavillo
  • He used a hammer to drive the brad into the wooden frame to secure the picture.

Examples

  • With a pair of needle-nosed pliers, he pulled out the wire brads, then lifted the pane out.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Dutch boy clunkers; his are made of llama skin, fastened with metal brads to a slab of galvanized rubber.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • To assemble the model, she attached the pieces using brads to ensure a tight fit.

  • When making repairs, always keep a supply of brads handy for fastening thin materials.

Synonyms

nail
vsbrad
184 1.0

A thin pointed piece of metal with a flat head used to hold things together

is smaller and used especially for fastening thin wooden pieces
tack
vsbrad
17 2.2

A small nail with a flat head used to fasten things

has a slight off-center head suited for fastening thin wooden pieces
tacket
vsbrad
9.9

A small nail used to hold leather or thin wood

is mainly for fastening thin wooden pieces rather than general carpentry use
tintack
vsbrad
  • Archaic
9.6

A small metal nail used to hold light things like paper on a board

is preferred for thin wood fastening rather than plated metal fasteners

How Thin

pin
153 1.0
brad
460 7.8
nail
184 1.0

Surface Forms

brad singular
brads plural

Etymology

Brad names a very small, thin nail used in delicate woodwork. The word comes from an old English word for a small 'pin', so you can remember a brad as a tiny nail that holds thin pieces together.