nest Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
  2. noun a kind of gun emplacement
    • a machine-gun nest
    • a nest of snipers
  3. noun a cosy or secluded retreat
  4. noun a gang of people (criminals or spies or terrorists) assembled in one locality
    • a nest of thieves
  5. noun furniture pieces made to fit close together
  6. verb inhabit a nest, usually after building
    • birds are nesting outside my window every Spring
  7. verb fit together or fit inside
    • nested bowls
  8. verb move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
    nuzzle; nestle; cuddle; draw close; snuggle.
    • We cuddled against each other to keep warm
    • The children snuggled into their sleeping bags
  9. verb gather nests

WordNet

Nest noun
Etymology
AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. näste, L. nidus, for nisdus, Skr. nia 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. &root; 264. See Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye.
Definitions
  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. 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. Spenser.
  4. (Geol.) 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. (Mech.) A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working together or collectively. Hudibras.
Nest intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To build and occupy a nest.
    The king of birds nested within his leaves. Howell.
Nest transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To put into a nest; to form a nest for.
    From him who nested himself into the chief power. South.

Webster 1913