nest

nest1 [ nest ] noun count **

1. ) a structure that birds make to keep their eggs and babies in:

build a nest: Ducks usually build their nests on the ground.

a ) a place that insects or small animals such as mice make to live in:

an ants' nest

b ) used for referring to a place that is warm, safe, and comfortable:

She made herself a little nest out of blankets.

2. ) nest of a set of similar things of different sizes that fit inside each other:

a nest of tables

3. ) nest of a place or situation that is full of bad people or activities:

Officials uncovered a nest of abuse and exploitation.

a nest of criminals/spies

leave/fly the nest

to move away from your parents' home because you are an adult

nest

nest 2 [ nest ] verb *

1. ) intransitive if a bird nests, it builds or uses a nest, especially to keep its eggs and babies in:

Do not disturb nesting birds or other wildlife.

2. ) transitive to organize information so that one part is contained inside another:

Supplementary units can be nested within a core unit.

a ) COMPUTING to put information inside a computer program that contains other information of the same type:

nested Word documents