noun

le clou

nail

C'est un petit objet en métal, pointu à une extrémité et plat de l'autre, qu'on enfonce dans du bois ou un mur pour fixer quelque chose.

The French word "clou" primarily means "nail" in English — a small metal spike used in construction or carpentry to fasten things together.

Here are its main meanings and uses:

Physical object:

"Clou" refers to a metal nail that you hammer into wood or other materials.
Example: Il a planté un clou dans le mur (He hammered a nail into the wall).

Figurative meaning:

It can also mean the "highlight" or the most important part of an event or performance.
Example: Le clou du spectacle means "the highlight of the show."

Synonyms and differences:

Croc: means "hook" or "fang," not related to "clou."
Vis: means "screw," which also fastens materials but turns rather than is hammered.
Épingle: means "pin" or "pinhead," smaller and typically used for fabrics or papers.

So, "clou" has both a literal, concrete sense (a nail) and a figurative sense (the highlight of something). Context will determine the intended meaning.