Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A cosmetic treatment of the fingernails, including shaping and polishing.
  • transitive verb To trim, clean, and polish (the fingernails).
  • transitive verb To clip or trim evenly and closely.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The surgical care of the hands and nails.
  • noun One who makes a business of trimming and polishing the nails, removing blemishes from the hands, etc.
  • To care for (the hands and nails).
  • To perform the work of a manicure.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • verb To care for (the hands and nails); to care for the hands and nails of; to do manicure work.
  • verb to trim carefully and meticulously.
  • noun The care of the hands and nails, especially a thorough cosmetic treatment of the hands, especially the trimming and polishing of the fingernails, and removing of cuticles, performed by a manicurist.
  • noun A person who makes a business of taking care of people's hands, especially their nails; -- an older term for a manicurist.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a cosmetic treatment for the fingernails
  • verb to trim the fingernails

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb trim carefully and neatly
  • noun professional care for the hands and fingernails
  • verb care for (one's hand) by cutting and shaping the nails, etc.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French : Latin manus, hand; see man- in Indo-European roots + Latin cūra, care; see cure.]

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Examples

  • But her manicure is perfect and she's chosen exactly the right shade of pink nail polish to show off the color of her skin.

    Pretty hands 2008

  • He was generous with Hansen, picking up the tab when she took a friend to Spago, giving her courtside Lakers seats, and paying for her to have a manicure from the beautician his wife frequented.

    How To Treat the Help? 2006

  • He was generous with Hansen, picking up the tab when she took a friend to Spago, giving her courtside Lakers seats, and paying for her to have a manicure from the beautician his wife frequented.

    How To Treat the Help? 2006

  • Celebrity Beat: Lindsay Lohan takes to Twitter to comment on "cruel and unusual punishment"; also insists F-word manicure was only a joke; a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office says Lohan will serve jail time in a private cell ...

    Lindsay Lohan takes to Twitter; 'American Idol' tour calls off dates; Emmy Award noms imminent 2010

  • ‘For my mom, getting a manicure is a major personal achievement.’

    State of the Union Douglas Kennedy 2005

  • I examine my manicure, which is pretty good, considering I did it myself.

    BAD GIRL CREEK Jo-Ann Mapson 2001

  • Lindsay Lohan skips birthday party so she can tweet about her f-word manicure

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • Lindsay Lohan skips birthday party so she can tweet about her f-word manicure

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • Ubell-Meyer said she went to an orthopedist, a dermatologist, a chiropractor and more, but none of them believed her manicure could be the cause.

    ABC News: Top Stories 2010

  • Lindsay Lohan skips birthday party so she can tweet about her f-word manicure

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

Comments

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  • I like this example: “Not even the constant loss of small articles from the counter, such as manicure sticks, and digestive tablets, and jujubes, and face cream and smokers 'cachous, which never ought to be spread about there at all, because they are so easily conveyed by the dishonest customer into pocket or muff, can seriously upset the smiling side of the chemist's ledger.”--Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, January 28, 1914

    September 22, 2011

  • Much to love in that example. Jujubes. The odd assortment of "small articles". The smokers 'cachous. The moral "ought". The non-specific "dishonest customer" (or does Punch have a specific dishonest customer in mind?) And of course the muff.

    September 22, 2011

  • "MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INSPECT ALL MUFF CONVEYORS."

    September 22, 2011