NEST

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nest mean? 

• NEST (noun)
  The noun NEST has 5 senses:

1. a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

2. a kind of gun emplacement

3. a cosy or secluded retreat

4. a gang of people (criminals or spies or terrorists) assembled in one locality

5. furniture pieces made to fit close together

  Familiarity information: NEST used as a noun is common.

• NEST (verb)
  The verb NEST has 4 senses:

1. inhabit a nest, usually after building

2. fit together or fit inside

3. move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

4. gather nests

  Familiarity information: NEST used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NEST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("nest" is a kind of...):

natural object (an object occurring naturally; not made by man)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "nest"):

beehive; hive (a structure that provides a natural habitation for bees; as in a hollow tree)

bird's nest; bird nest; birdnest (nest where birds lay their eggs and hatch their young)

drey (the nest of a squirrel)

mouse's nest; mouse nest (where mice bear and raise their young)

nidus (a nest in which spiders or insects deposit their eggs)

Derivation:

nest (gather nests)

nest (inhabit a nest, usually after building)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A kind of gun emplacement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

a nest of snipers

Hypernyms ("nest" is a kind of...):

gun emplacement; weapons emplacement (an emplacement for a gun)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A cosy or secluded retreat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("nest" is a kind of...):

retreat (a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A gang of people (criminals or spies or terrorists) assembled in one locality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

a nest of thieves

Hypernyms ("nest" is a kind of...):

gang; mob; pack; ring (an association of criminals)

Domain category:

act of terrorism; terrorism; terrorist act (the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "nest"):

sleeper nest (a nest of sleepers awaiting a prearranged signal)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Furniture pieces made to fit close together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("nest" is a kind of...):

article of furniture; furniture; piece of furniture (furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy)

Derivation:

nest (fit together or fit inside)

• NEST (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they nest    ... he / she / it nests   
Past simple: nested   
Past participle: nested   
-ing form: nesting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Inhabit a nest, usually after building

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

birds are nesting outside my window every Spring

Hypernyms (to "nest" is one way to...):

dwell; inhabit; live; populate (be an inhabitant of or reside in)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

nest (a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young)

nester (a bird that has built (or is building) a nest)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fit together or fit inside

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

nested bowls

Hypernyms (to "nest" is one way to...):

embed; engraft; imbed; implant; plant (fix or set securely or deeply)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

nest (furniture pieces made to fit close together)

nester (a bird that has built (or is building) a nest)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cuddle; draw close; nest; nestle; nuzzle; snuggle

Context example:

The children snuggled into their sleeping bags

Hypernyms (to "nest" is one way to...):

cling to; clutch; hold close; hold tight (hold firmly, usually with one's hands)

Verb group:

nestle; snuggle (position comfortably)

draw close (pull towards oneself)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Gather nests

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "nest" is one way to...):

collect; garner; gather; pull together (assemble or get together)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

In the summer they like to go out and nest

Derivation:

nest (a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young)

nester (a bird that has built (or is building) a nest)

 Context examples 

The path led him into a wood, and there he saw two old ravens standing by their nest, and throwing out their young ones.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Honeyguides give a special call to attract people’s attention, then fly from tree to tree to indicate the direction of a bees’ nest.

(How humans and wild Honeyguide birds call each other to help, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

As its name suggests, this breed has a proclivity for cotton in its nesting, and is a natural Hanta viral reservoir.

(Cotton Rat, NCI Thesaurus)

“Unless my wits is gone a bahd's neezing”—by which Mr. Peggotty meant to say, bird's-nesting—“this morning, 'tis along of me as you're a-going to quit us?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He brought in our furs, and made a snug nest for me, and got out some provisions and forced them upon me.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Morphologically, the plaque contains nests of basaloid cells.

(Intraepidermal Epithelioma of Jadassohn, NCI Thesaurus)

These data were then cross-referenced with decades of field studies showing the locations of hundreds of owl nests.

(Researchers find preserving spotted owl habitat may not require a tradeoff with wildfire risk after all, Wikinews)

An esophageal squamous cell carcinoma characterized by the presence of basal-like malignant squamous cells that form nests, often associated with central necrosis.

(Esophageal Poorly Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)

But because it takes some time to find a site and build a new nest, there is a period when they have no place to live.

(Bees Help Researchers Confirm Theory about Maintaining Protective Clumps under Tough Conditions, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

He was brought from his nest to the fire and was pressed and prodded till he cried out many times.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)