nest

American  

[nest] / nɛst /

noun

nests plural

1. a pocketlike, usually more or less circular structure of twigs, grass, mud, etc., formed by a bird, often high in a tree, as a place in which to lay and incubate its eggs and rear its young; any protected place used by a bird for these purposes.

2. a place used by insects, fishes, turtles, rabbits, etc., for depositing their eggs or young.

3. a number of birds, insects, animals, etc., inhabiting one such place.

4. a snug retreat or refuge; resting place; home.

5. an assemblage of things lying or set close together, as a series of boxes or trays, that fit within each other.

   a nest of tables.

6. a place where something bad is fostered or flourishes: a robber's nest.

   a nest of vice;

   a robber's nest.

7. the occupants or frequenters of such a place.

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verb (used with object)

nests, present (3rd person singular) nested, past participle, past nesting present participle

1. to settle or place (something) in or as if in a nest.

   to nest dishes in straw.

2. to fit or place one within another.

   to nest boxes for more compact storage.

verb (used without object)

nests, present (3rd person singular) nested, past participle, past nesting present participle

1. to build or have a nest.

   The swallows nested under the eaves.

2. to settle in or as if in a nest.

3. to fit together or within another or one another.

   bowls that nest easily for storage.

4. to search for or collect nests.

   to go nesting.

5. Computers. to place a routine inside another routine that is at a higher hierarchical level.

nest British  

/ nɛst /

noun

1. a place or structure in which birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, mice, etc, lay eggs or give birth to young

2. a number of animals of the same species and their young occupying a common habitat

   an ants' nest

3. a place fostering something undesirable

   a nest of thievery

4. the people in such a place

   a nest of thieves

5. a cosy or secluded place

6. a set of things, usually of graduated sizes, designed to fit together

   a nest of tables

7. military a weapon emplacement

   a machine-gun nest

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verb

1. (intr) to make or inhabit a nest

2. (intr) to hunt for birds' nests

3. (tr) to place in a nest

nest Idioms  

1. see empty nest; feather one's nest; foul one's nest; stir up a hornet's nest.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nester
  noun
• nestable
  adjective
• nestlike
  adjective
• nesty
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nests
  plural

Participles

• nesting
  present
• nested
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• nest
  simple
• nests
  simple
• have nested
  perfect
• has nested
  perfect
• am nesting
  progressive
• are nesting
  progressive
• is nesting
  progressive
• have been nesting
  perfect progressive
• has been nesting
  perfect progressive

Past

• nested
  simple
• had nested
  perfect
• was nesting
  progressive
• were nesting
  progressive
• had been nesting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will nest
  simple
• will have nested
  perfect
• will be nesting
  progressive
• will have been nesting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of nest

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English (cognate with Dutch, German nest; akin to Latin nīdus “nest,” Old Irish net, Welsh nyth, Sanskrit nīḍa “lair”), ultimately from unattested Indo-European nizdo- “bird's nest,” equivalent to unattested ni “down” ( see nether) + unattested zd-, variant of unattested sd-, ablaut variant of unattested sed-, verb base meaning “sit” ( see sit ¹) + unattested -o- thematic vowel

Explanation

A nest is a shelter or other structure that an animal uses for laying eggs or giving birth. If a bird is collecting string and straw and twigs in your yard, she's probably building a nest in a nearby tree. Large birds of prey build nests that can be six feet high, in trees or on buildings, and up to three feet wide. Owls often make nests in tree hollows, while orioles build elaborate hammock-like nests that hang from branches. Foxes, mice, and raccoons also build nests, and people can make nests too, cozy spots to settle for a nap. As a verb, nest means "to build a nest or fit inside something larger."

Example Sentences

By the Labor Department’s own math, 1% in additional fees can shrink someone’s nest egg at retirement by 28%.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2026

The researchers believe the bees mixed dirt with saliva to construct each tiny nest, which measured less than the size of a pencil eraser.

From Science Daily • Jul. 5, 2026

He and his wife expected to have an empty nest by now.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 5, 2026

The money can continue growing to build a nest egg, or it can be used for education, first-time home purchases and up to $1,000 in yearly emergency expenses.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026

Sometimes she even forgot that he wasn’t just somewhere else on the island, measuring the bubbles at the Hissing Stones or counting eggs in a kittiwake’s nest.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

• burrow
• den
• refuge