nest, n. [AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. näste, L. nidus, for nisdus, Skr. nī resting place, nest; cf. Lith. lizdas, Arm. neiz, Gael. & Ir. nead. Prob. from the particle ni down, Skr. ni + the root of E. sit, and thus orig., a place to sit down in. Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye.].

The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and for hatching and rearing her young. [1913 Webster]
"The birds of the air have nests." [1913 Webster]

The place in which the eggs of other animals, as insects, turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place in which young animals are reared. Bentley. [1913 Webster]

A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a nest of bugs. [1913 Webster]
"A little cottage, like some poor man's nest." [1913 Webster]

An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an isolated state, within a rock. [1913 Webster]

A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated size, each put within the one next larger. [1913 Webster]

A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working together or collectively. [1913 Webster]

nest, v. i.

To build and occupy a nest. [1913 Webster]
"The king of birds nested within his leaves." [1913 Webster]

nest, v. t.

To put into a nest; to form a nest for. [1913 Webster]
"From him who nested himself into the chief power." [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

nest, n. & v.
--n.
1 a structure or place where a bird lays eggs and shelters its young.
2 an animal's or insect's breeding-place or lair.
3 a snug or secluded retreat or shelter.
4 (often foll. by of) a place fostering something undesirable (a nest of vice).
5 a brood or swarm.
6 a group or set of similar objects, often of different sizes and fitting together for storage (a nest of tables).
--v.
1 intr. use or build a nest.
2 intr. take wild birds' nests or eggs.
3 intr. (of objects) fit together or one inside another.
4 tr. (usu. as nested adj.) establish in or as in a nest.

Idiom

nest egg
1 a sum of money saved for the future.
2 a real or artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay eggs there.

Derivative

nestful n. (pl. -fuls). nesting n. (in sense 2 of v.). nestlike adj.

Etymology

OE nest

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THESAURUS

nest
a mass of, a world of, abide, abiding place, abode, address, aerie, anchor, apiary, army, bee tree, beehive, berth, bevy, billet at, birthplace, bivouac, breeding place, brood, brooder, bunch, bunk, burrow, camp, cantonment, cloud, clutch, clutter, cohabit, colonize, come to anchor, covey, cradle, crash pad, crib, den, domesticate, domicile, domiciliate, domus, doss down, drop anchor, dwell, dwelling, dwelling place, ensconce, establish residence, eyrie, farrow, flight, flock, flocks, forcing bed, fry, get, habitation, hail, hang out, hatch, hatchery, haunt, hideaway, hive, host, hotbed, incubator, inhabit, jam, keep house, lair, large amount, legion, litter, live, live at, locate, lodge, lodging, lodging place, lodgment, lots, many, masses of, mob, moor, move, muchness, multitude, nidus, numbers, nursery, occupy, pack, pad, park, people, perch, place, place to live, plurality, populate, quantities, quite a few, refuge, relocate, remain, reside, residence, resort, retreat, roof, rookery, room, roost, rout, ruck, scores, seat, set up housekeeping, set up shop, settle, settle down, shoal, sit down, snuggery, spat, spawn, squat, stand, stay, stay at, strike root, swarm, take residence at, take root, take up residence, tenant, throng, tidy sum, vespiary, worlds of, young

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ROGET THESAURUS

nest

Multitude
N multitude, numerous, numerosity, numerality, multiplicity, profusion, legion, host, great number, large number, round number, enormous number, a quantity, numbers, array, sight, army, sea, galaxy, scores, peck, bushel, shoal, swarm, draught, bevy, cloud, flock, herd, drove, flight, covey, hive, brood, litter, farrow, fry, nest, crowd, lots, all in the world and his wife, greater number, majority, multiplication, multiple, many, several, sundry, divers, various, not a few, Briarean, a hundred, a thousand, a myriad, a million, a quadrillion, a nonillion, a thousand and one, some ten or a dozen, some forty or fifty, half a dozen, half a hundred, very many, full many, ever so many, numerous, numerose, profuse, in profusion, manifold, multiplied, multitudinous, multiple, multinominal, teeming, populous, peopled, crowded, thick, studded, galore, thick coming, many more, more than one can tell, a world of, no end of, no end to, cum multis aliis, thick as hops, thick as hail, plenty as blackberries, numerous as the stars in the firmament, numerous as the sands on the seashore, numerous as the hairs on the head, and what not, and heaven knows what, endless, their name is 'legion', acervatim, en foule, many- headed multitude, numerous as glittering gems of morning dew, vel prece vel pretio.

Cause
N cause, origin, source, principle, element, occasioner, prime mover, primum mobile, vera causa, author, mainspring, agent, leaven, groundwork, foundation, spring, fountain, well, font, fountainhead, spring head, wellhead, fons et origo, genesis, descent, remote cause, influence, pivot, hinge, turning point, lever, crux, fulcrum, key, proximate cause, causa causans, straw that breaks the camel's back, ground, reason, reason why, why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation, final cause, les dessous des cartes, undercurrents, rudiment, egg, germ, embryo, bud, root, radix radical, etymon, nucleus, seed, stem, stock, stirps, trunk, tap-root, gemmule, radicle, semen, sperm, nest, cradle, nursery, womb, nidus, birthplace, hotbed, causality, causation, origination, production, caused, causal, original, primary, primitive, primordial, aboriginal, protogenal, radical, embryonic, embryotic, in embryo, in ovo, seminal, germinal, at the bottom of, connate, having a common origin, because, behind the scenes, causa latet vis est notissima, felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.

Abode
N abode, dwelling, lodging, domicile, residence, apartment, place, digs, pad, address, habitation, where one's lot is cast, local habitation, berth, diggings, seat, lap, sojourn, housing, quarters, headquarters, resiance, tabernacle, throne, ark, home, fatherland, country, homestead, homestall, fireside, hearth, hearth stone, chimney corner, inglenook, ingle side, harem, seraglio, zenana, household gods, lares et penates, roof, household, housing, dulce domum, paternal domicile, native soil, native land, habitat, range, stamping ground, haunt, hangout, biosphere, environment, ecological niche, nest, nidus, snuggery, arbor, bower, lair, den, cave, hole, hiding place, cell, sanctum sanctorum, aerie, eyrie, eyry, rookery, hive, covert, resort, retreat, perch, roost, nidification, kala jagah, bivouac, camp, encampment, cantonment, castrametation, barrack, casemate, casern, tent, building, chamber, xenodochium, tenement, messuage, farm, farmhouse, grange, hacienda, toft, cot, cabin, hut, chalet, croft, shed, booth, stall, hovel, bothy, shanty, dugout, wigwam, pen, barn, bawn, kennel, sty, doghold, cote, coop, hutch, byre, cow house, cow shed, stable, dovecote, columbary, columbarium, shippen, igloo, iglu, jacal, lacustrine dwelling, lacuslake dwelling, lacuspile dwelling, log cabin, log house, shack, shebang, tepee, topek, house, mansion, place, villa, cottage, box, lodge, hermitage, rus in urbe, folly, rotunda, tower, chateau, castle, pavilion, hotel, court, manor-house, capital messuage, hall, palace, kiosk, bungalow, casa, country seat, apartment house, flat house, frame house, shingle house, tenement house, temple, hamlet, village, thorp, dorp, ham, kraal, borough, burgh, town, city, capital, metropolis, suburb, province, country, county town, county seat, courthouse, ghetto, street, place, terrace, parade, esplanade, alameda, board walk, embankment, road, row, lane, alley, court, quadrangle, quad, wynd, close, yard, passage, rents, buildings, mews, square, polygon, circus, crescent, mall, piazza, arcade, colonnade, peristyle, cloister, gardens, grove, residences, block of buildings, market place, place, plaza, anchorage, roadstead, roads, dock, basin, wharf, quay, port, harbor, quarter, parish, assembly room, meetinghouse, pump room, spa, watering place, inn, hostel, hostelry, hotel, tavern, caravansary, dak bungalow, khan, hospice, public house, pub, pot house, mug house, gin mill, gin palace, bar, bar room, barrel house, cabaret, chophouse, club, clubhouse, cookshop, dive, exchange, grill room, saloon, shebeen, coffee house, eating house, canteen, restaurant, buffet, cafe, estaminet, posada, almshouse, poorhouse, townhouse, garden, park, pleasure ground, plaisance, demesne, cage, terrarium, doghouse, pen, aviary, barn, stall, zoo, urban, metropolitan, suburban, provincial, rural, rustic, domestic, cosmopolitan, palatial, eigner Hert ist goldes Werth, even cities have their graves, ubi libertas ibi patria, home sweet home.

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