nestle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to lie close and snug, like a bird in a nest; snuggle or cuddle.
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to lie or be located in a sheltered spot; be naturally or pleasantly situated.
a cottage nestling in a pine grove.
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Archaic.
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to make or have a nest.
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to make one's home; settle in a home.
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verb (used with object)
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to settle or ensconce snugly.
He nestled himself into the hay for a short nap.
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to put or press confidingly or affectionately.
She nestled her head on his shoulder.
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to provide with or settle in a nest, as a bird.
verb
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(intr; often foll by up or down) to snuggle, settle, or cuddle closely
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(intr) to be in a sheltered or protected position; lie snugly
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(tr) to shelter or place snugly or partly concealed, as in a nest
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has nestledperfect 3rd person singular
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have nestledperfect
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is nestlingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are nestlingprogressive
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has been nestlingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am nestlingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been nestlingperfect progressive
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nestlingparticiple
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nestlessingular 3rd person
Past
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had nestledperfect
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were nestlingprogressive plural
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had been nestlingperfect progressive
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was nestlingprogressive singular
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nestledsimple
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nestledparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of nestle
before 1000; Middle English nestlen, Old English nestlian, cognate with Dutch nestelen. See nest, -le
Explanation
To nestle into something is to get snug, comfy, and warm in it. You might nestle into your mother’s shoulder, or into a pile of blankets on the couch. People must think that birds live comfortable lives, because they describe really cozy, safe, and comfortable places as nests: places to nestle into. And it’s not just people and birds that nestle. A cottage might be nestled into the crook of a hill, or a mouse nestled into a pile of wood shavings.
Vocabulary lists containing nestle
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
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The Circuit
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"Digging" by Seamus Heaney
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In January and February, Nestle and Danone issued recalls of their baby formula brands in more than 60 countries, including in the UK, after babies fell ill.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
“I just passed on a package of Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips this morning because the bag was $10,” one Reddit user wrote in a discussion thread about the E-shaped economy.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
KitKat, owned by Swiss food giant Nestle, confirmed in a statement sent to AFP on Saturday that "a truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range has been stolen during transit in Europe".
From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026
Nestle the chicken back on top so the juices mingle with the beans.
From Salon • Feb. 24, 2026
With borrowed money, Father bought us more food, including a giant can of Nido Nestle powdered milk, which Mother struggled to keep away from our hungry hands.
From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
