nest

A place a bird builds to lay eggs and care for its young.

• The bird built a nest.
• There are three eggs in the nest.
• A robin's nest was hidden in the hedge.

Common phrases: bird nest, build a nest, nest of eggs

A place where an animal lives, rests, or keeps its young.

• We found a mouse nest.
• The wasps built a nest under the roof.
• She lined the rabbit's nest with dry grass.

Common phrases: wasp nest, mouse nest, ant nest

The family home where someone lives with their parents before becoming independent.

• Their eldest son has left the nest.
• She returned to the nest after college.
• They are getting used to an empty nest.

Similar words: family home, parental home

Common phrases: leave the nest, empty nest, fly the nest

A place where criminals or other harmful people gather or hide.

• Police found a nest of thieves.
• The old warehouse was a nest of smugglers.
• Agents uncovered a nest of spies in the city.

How to use it: nest of people (The abandoned house had become a nest of thieves.)

Similar words: den, hideout

Common phrases: nest of thieves, nest of spies, criminal nest

To build or stay in a place where an animal can lay eggs or raise its young.

• The birds nest here every spring.
• A pair of owls nested in our tree.
• These seabirds are nesting on the cliffs.

How to use it: nest in/on/under somewhere (Swallows nest under the roof.)

Common phrases: nest in trees, nest on cliffs, nest under something

To put one thing inside another, often with further things placed inside in the same way.

• You can nest folders inside other folders.
• The programmer nested two loops within the function.
• These elements are nested several levels deep.

How to use it: nest A inside/within B (You can nest one loop inside another.)

Similar words: embed

Common phrases: nest something inside something, nest something within something, nest loops

To fit things neatly inside one another, usually from largest to smallest.

• These bowls nest together neatly.
• She nested the boxes to save space.
• Each wooden doll nests inside a larger one.

How to use it: nest inside something (The smaller bowls nest inside the largest one.)

Common phrases: nest inside something, nest together, nest the bowls

To settle comfortably into a home and make it feel welcoming.

• They are happily nesting in their new house.
• We spent the weekend nesting at home.
• She nested in the apartment, arranging cushions and pictures.

Similar words: settle in

Common phrases: nest at home, nest in something, nest together