nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈne-səl 

nestled; nestling ˈne-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

archaic : nest sense 1

2

: to settle snugly or comfortably

3

: to lie in an inconspicuous or sheltered manner

transitive verb

1

: to settle, shelter, or house in or as if in a nest

the children were nestled all snug in their beds

—Clement Moore

2

: to press closely and affectionately

nestles a kitten in her arms

nestler

ˈne-s(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

• cuddle
• nuzzle
• snoozle [chiefly dialect]
• snuggle

Examples of nestle in a Sentence

He nestled his head against his mother's shoulder.

She carefully nestled the hamster into its cage.

The fly ball nestled into the outfielder's glove.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Ultimate, also known as the limited-edition or collector’s version, is hand-bound using traditional techniques and nestled in a luxe clamshell presentation case. —Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2024

The 3,500-square-foot duplex is nestled in the corner of a historic pre-war building and features three bedrooms and four full bathrooms. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2024

In 2023, the company assumed management of Patagonia National Park and its facilities, including a 13-room lodge nestled within the park. —Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Aug. 2024

Deep in the forests of Germany, there is a resort, a quaint getaway nestled right at the bottom of the Bavarian Alps. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English nestlian, from nest

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈnes-əl 

nestled; nestling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to lie close and snug : cuddle

2

: to settle as if in a nest

nestler

-(ə-)lər 

noun