nest

noun
UK: /nest/
US: /nest/

  1. A structure built by birds or insects to hold their eggs and young.

    1. The bird flew back to its nest. [ ] [ ]
    2. The robin carefully built its nest high in the old oak tree to protect it from predators. [ ] [ ]

  2. A place that provides shelter or feels like home; a cozy or comfortable place.

    1. This small room is my nest. [ ] [ ]
    2. After a long day, I like to retreat to my cozy nest with a good book. [ ] [ ]

  3. A group of insects or other creatures living together.

    1. We found a nest of ants under the rock. [ ] [ ]
    2. The children disturbed a nest of wasps while playing in the garden, causing quite a commotion. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

den lair roost hideaway refuge settle cuddle snuggle
nest verb

  1. To build a nest.

    1. Birds nest in the spring. [ ] [ ]
    2. The swallows nested under the eaves of the barn every summer, returning faithfully each year. [ ] [ ]

  2. To settle comfortably in a protected or cozy place.

    1. The cat likes to nest on the blanket. [ ] [ ]
    2. She nested herself in the armchair with a cup of tea and a good magazine for hours. [ ] [ ]

  3. To fit objects together so that one is inside the other.

    1. Nest the bowls to save space. [ ] [ ]
    2. The Russian dolls are designed to nest neatly inside each other, creating a compact set. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "nest" in English means: A structure built by birds or insects to hold their eggs and young., A place that provides shelter or feels like home; a cozy or comfortable place., A group of insects or other creatures living together..

The phonetic transcription of "nest" is /nest/ in British English and /nest/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "nest": den, lair, roost, hideaway, refuge, settle, cuddle, snuggle.

Example usage of "nest": "The bird flew back to its nest.". More examples on the page.