Definition of nest
1a : a bed or receptacle prepared by an animal and especially a bird for its eggs and youngb : a place or specially modified structure serving as an abode of animals and especially of their immature stages an ants' nestc : a receptacle resembling a bird's nest
2a : a place of rest, retreat, or lodging : home grown children who have left the nestb : den, hangout
3 : the occupants or frequenters of a nest
4a : a group of similar things a nest of giant mountains — Helen MacInnesb : hotbed 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
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Examples of nest in a Sentence
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.
Origin and Etymology of nest
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German nest nest, Latin nidus
nest
Definition of nest
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
Examples of nest in a Sentence
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.
First Known Use of nest
13th century
NEST Defined for English Language Learners
nest
playDefinition of nest for English Language Learners
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: the place where a bird lays its eggs and takes care of its young
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: a place where an animal or insect lives and usually lays eggs or takes care of its young
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: a home where people live
nest
Definition of nest for English Language Learners
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: to build or live in a nest
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: to fit inside each other
NEST Defined for Kids
Definition of nest for Students
nested
;nesting
: to build or live in a nest nesting birds
Medical Dictionary
nest
playMedical Definition of nest
: an isolated collection or clump of cells in tissue of a different structure a nest of sarcomatous cells
Learn More about nest
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See words that rhyme with nest Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nest Spanish Central: Translation of nest Nglish: Translation of nest for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of nest for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nest
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