nest

1 of 2

noun

ˈnest 

1

a

: a bed or receptacle prepared by an animal and especially a bird for its eggs and young

b

: a place or specially modified structure serving as an abode of animals and especially of their immature stages

an ants' nest

c

: a receptacle resembling a bird's nest

2

a

: a place of rest, retreat, or lodging : home

grown children who have left the nest

b

: den, hangout

3

: the occupants or frequenters of a nest

4

a

: a group of similar things

a nest of giant mountains

—Helen MacInnes

b

: hotbed sense 2

a nest of rebellion

5

: a group of objects made to fit close together or one within another

6

: an emplaced group of weapons

nest

2 of 2

verb

nested; nesting; nests

intransitive verb

1

: to build or occupy a nest : settle in or as if in a nest

2

: to fit compactly together or within one another : embed

transitive verb

1

: to form a nest for

2

: to pack compactly together

3

: to form a hierarchy, series, or sequence of with each member, element, or set contained in or containing the next

nested subroutines

Synonyms

Noun

• breeding ground
• hotbed
• hothouse
• nidus
• nursery
• seedbed
• seminary

Examples of nest in a Sentence

Noun

The bird built a nest out of small twigs.

If you look closely, you can see a nest in that tree.

They lived in a cozy little nest in the suburbs.

Verb

Robins nested in the tree.

She studied the nesting habits of the turtle.

The set of four chairs can nest into one stack.

The smaller bowl is designed to nest inside the larger one.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In his nest of 100 eggs, the last of the season, just 13 survived. —Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024

The nests, made from the birds’ saliva, are the key ingredient in bird’s nest soup, an expensive delicacy believed by many Chinese to have health benefits. —Muktita Suhartono Nyimas Laula, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

The University of Florida has a live cam pointed at an osprey nest on campus. —Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024

David then shared a snap of a blue egg laying in a nest. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024

The second bird then typically enters the nest first. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024

The nest shape of these mini-pavlovas can cradle all manner of treats. —Nicole Clausing, Sunset Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024

The former president has until nest week to post a bond of $175 million. —David Jackson, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024

In 2022, the live cam of their nest got over 70,000 viewers. —Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024

Verb

But in Isère, Ms. Chatelain said, no bird would nest in a hedge on March 15 because the hedge is still frozen. —Roger Cohen Ivor Prickett, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024

Some toys nest into each other, while others have holes in the bottom for water to trickle through. —Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

The egg opens to reveal a bejeweled octopus nested inside. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024

Some pots were even designed to nest, stacked inside one another, Knight said — evidence of an interest in aesthetics as well as practicality. —Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024

The small bird is found in riparian areas across Arizona, breeding and nesting in vegetation alongside rivers and creeks. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024

The legendary manager nested a permanent home on the wrestling manager Mount Rushmore. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Spotted nesting in a tree in north Orange County are two adult bald eagles and at least two eaglets. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 19 Mar. 2024

Care will be taken to avoid grunion runs and least tern nesting areas. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German nest nest, Latin nidus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing nest

• empty-nest syndrome
• nest egg
• bird's-nest fern
• love nest
• bird's nest soup
• leave/flee the nest
• crow's nest
• mare's nest
• hornet's nest
• feather one's nest

Kids Definition

nest

1 of 2 noun

ˈnest 

1

a

: a place or structure where eggs are laid and hatched or young are raised

a turtle's nest

the nest of a bird

a mouse's nest

b

: the home or shelter of an animal (as a squirrel or chimpanzee)

2

a

: a place of rest, retreat, or lodging : home

grown children who have left the nest

b

: den sense 2, hangout

the robbers' nest

3

: the occupants of a nest

a nest of baby birds

4

: a group of objects made to fit one within another

a nest of measuring cups

nest

2 of 2 verb

1

: to build or live in a nest

robins nested in the tree

2

: to fit compactly together or within one another

a set of tables that nest for storage

Medical Definition

nest

noun

ˈnest 

: an isolated collection or clump of cells in tissue of a different structure

a nest of sarcomatous cells