nail enamel
1
2.8
- noun
- /neɪl ɪˈnæməl/
:
esmalte de uñas
- nail enamel dries quickly
- nail enamel finish
- fast-dry nail enamel
Examples
-
It is abys nail enamel in pretty, as pretty as a Peach.
-
Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel in "Forbidden" and "24k" as the stencil color.
Blog text (34) -
She chose a vibrant red shade of nail enamel to match her dress for the party.
-
Before applying the nail enamel, make sure your nails are clean and dry for a flawless finish.
-
The salon offers a variety of nail enamel colors, from classic neutrals to bold, bright shades.
Synonyms
469
1.0
A coloured liquid you put on surfaces to protect or decorate them
81
2.7
A substance used to make a surface smooth and shiny
40
1.8
A colored or clear paint you put on fingernails and toenails to give them color and shine
1
2.7
A colored or clear liquid you put on nails to make them look shiny and protect them
How Shiny
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'nail' (the horny plate on finger/toe) + 'enamel' (a hard, glossy coating): together they denote a glossy coating applied to nails. This noun+noun compounding pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase nail enamel comes from the word enamel, which once meant a hard, shiny layer people put on pots and metal in old crafts. So nail enamel is the liquid used to make a nail 'hard and shiny'.