nest
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Noun (5)nests
- a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their youngType of natural objectKinds mouse nest, nidus, beehive, drey, bird's nest
- a kind of gun emplacement“a machine-gun nest”“a nest of snipers”Type of gun emplacement, weapons emplacement
- a cosy or secluded retreatType of retreat
- a gang of people (criminals or spies or terrorists) assembled in one locality“a nest of thieves”Type of gang, packKinds sleeper nest
- furniture pieces made to fit close togetherType of furniture, piece of furniture
Verb (4)nests, nesting
- inhabit a nest, usually after building“birds are nesting outside my window every Spring”More general populate, dwell
- fit together or fit inside“nested bowls”More general implant, engraft
- move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position“We cuddled against each other to keep warm”“The children snuggled into their sleeping bags”Synonyms: cuddlesnugglenestlenuzzledraw closeMore general cling to, hold closeSimilar nestle, draw close
- gather nestsMore general gather, garner
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. näste, L. nidus, for nisdus, Skr. nīḍa resting place, nest; cf. Lith. lizdas, Arm. neiz, Gael. & Ir. nead. Prob. from the particle ni down, Skr. ni + the root of E. sit, and thus orig., a place to sit down in. √ 264. See Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye.
1. The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and for hatching and rearing her young.
The birds of the air have nests.— Matt. viii. 20.
2. Hence: The place in which the eggs of other animals, as insects, turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place in which young animals are reared. Richard Bentley
3. A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a nest of bugs.
A little cottage, like some poor man's nest.— Edmund Spenser
4. Geology An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an isolated state, within a rock.
5. A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated size, each put within the one next larger.
6. Mechanics A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working together or collectively.
To build and occupy a nest.
The king of birds nested within his leaves.— James Howell
To put into a nest; to form a nest for.
From him who nested himself into the chief power.— Robert South
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54