Meaning & use
cuticle
The thin layer of hardened skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail.
See it in a sentence
She gently pushed back her cuticles before applying a fresh coat of polish.
A dermatologist warned against cutting the cuticle too closely, since it protects the nail bed.
A note on using this word
Crossword puzzles often clue 'cuticle' with phrases like 'nail edge' or 'skin at a nail's base.'
Words with a similar meaning
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