nest

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(nĕst) pronunciation
n.
    1. A container or shelter made by a bird out of twigs, grass, or other material to hold its eggs and young.
    2. A similar structure in which fish, insects, or other animals deposit eggs or keep their young.
    3. A place in which young are reared; a lair.
    4. A number of insects, birds, or other animals occupying such a place: a nest of hornets.
  1. A place affording snug refuge or lodging; a home.
    1. A place or environment that fosters rapid growth or development, especially of something undesirable; a hotbed: a nest of criminal activity.
    2. Those who occupy or frequent such a place or environment.
    1. A set of objects of graduated size that can be stacked together, each fitting within the one immediately larger: a nest of tables.
    2. A cluster of similar things.
  2. Computer Science. A set of data contained sequentially within another.
  3. A group of weapons in a prepared position: a machine-gun nest.

v., nest·ed, nest·ing, nests.

v.intr.
  1. To build or occupy a nest.
  2. To create and settle into a warm and secure refuge.
  3. To hunt for birds' nests, especially in order to collect the eggs.
  4. To fit together in a stack.
v.tr.
  1. To place in or as if in a nest.
  2. To put snugly together or inside one another: to nest boxes.

[Middle English, from Old English.]

WORD HISTORY   Nest is an ancient word, *nizdos in Indo-European, composed of the prefix *ni- "down," plus a form of the verbal root *sed-, "to sit," followed by a suffix used to form nouns, *-os. Thus a *ni-zd-os literally means "(place where the bird) sits down." In Germanic, an old zd became st. Thus *nizdos became *nistaz, which further changed in Old English to nest. Latin also inherited the word *nizdos from Indo-European, where it eventually changed to nīdus. This word has been borrowed into English as a scientific term. The prefix *ni- survives elsewhere in English, too, in the words beneath and nether.



Nest of the American robin.
(click to enlarge)
Nest of the American robin. (credit: Jeff Foott/Bruce Coleman Inc.)
Structure built by an animal as a permanent home or for bearing and rearing offspring. The social insects build systems of chambers and tunnels, above or below ground. Fishes' nests vary from shallow depressions in sand to enclosed structures constructed of vegetation. Certain frog species build mud-basin nests or floating masses of hardened froth. Alligators use mud and vegetation and cobras use leaves and forest litter to build a nest for their eggs. The most common type of bird nest is a cup-shaped or domed structure of twigs, leaves, mud, and feathers. Many mammals, especially small ones, build nests in trees, on the ground, or in burrows.

For more information on nest, visit Britannica.com.

The way in which one network fits into a larger one, for example, in central place theory, where a smaller market area fits into a larger one.

nest, structure for the reception and incubation of the eggs of birds, reptiles, insects, and some fish or for the parturition of mammals, and also for the care of the young during their period of helplessness. Chimpanzees, orangutan, and gorillas build nests to sleep in each night. Birds are the chief nest builders, exhibiting great variety and ingenuity among the different species. The type of nest depends on the environment and the condition of the young when hatched. Altricial birds, whose young are generally blind, naked, and helpless on hatching, usually build higher and more elaborate nests than do precocial birds, whose young have a downy covering and are able to move about and feed themselves soon after emerging from the egg. Most sea birds, shore birds, and game birds do not build real nests but lay their eggs directly on a rocky ledge or in a shallow depression scooped out of the earth or sand. Woodpeckers and parrots nest inside hollow trees, as do the Old World hornbills; the male hornbill seals the female into the cavity, leaving an aperture only large enough for him to feed her as she incubates the eggs. Sand martins and kingfishers dig tunnels into shore banks, with enlarged nesting chambers at the ends. The stork's nest is a simple platform of sticks, and the eagle's aerie, built in tree tops or on cliffs, may be 5 to 12 ft (1.5-3.7 m) in diameter; both birds add to their nests each year. As a general rule, the smaller the bird the more elaborate is the nest. Among passerine (perching) birds the male usually selects the feeding and nesting territory, while the female chooses the nest site. In many species the duties of nest building and incubating are shared. The nest is usually bowl-shaped and composed of twigs, grass, leaves, and (when available) bits of cloth and string; thrushes line their nests with clay. Intricately woven, pendent, arboreal nests give the American oriole its alternate name, hangnest; the Old World weaverbirds' nests are similar, with one species building immense communal structures housing up to 600 birds. Swallows, ovenbirds, and flamingos build nests of mud cemented with saliva, and an Oriental swift builds its nest entirely of a salivary secretion (used to make bird's-nest soup by the Chinese). The turkeylike megapode, or mound bird, of Australia leaves its eggs in a pile of decaying vegetation, which provides the heat to incubate them; it is the only bird to share this nesting method with the reptiles. Among the insects, ants, bees, and wasps are well known for their nests. Some fish (e.g., the stickleback) build nests of weeds. Most rodents (e.g., mice and squirrels) are nesters; rabbits line their nests with down, as do ducks and geese. The den or lair of the larger mammals (e.g., wolves and lions) serves the same function as a nest.

Bibliography

See P. Goodfellow, Avian Architecture (2011).


sign description: One closed AND hand is placed in the opposite C-hand.




To see a nest or to be building a nest may indicate that a new home is being prepared or built. A strong sense of homemaking, or having that "nesting" instinct, occurs when a woman is pregnant. A desire to go home may be expressed by this dream symbol.


1. the bed or shelter constructed by a bird for deposition of its eggs and rearing of its young.
2. a bed prepared by an animal.
3. an accumulation of cells in a foreign location.

  • n. building — a signal of oncoming broodiness in female birds and of imminent parturition in some mammals.
Random House Word Menu:

categories related to 'nest'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to nest, see:

  See crossword solutions for the clue Nest.
A bird's nest

A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs or provide a place to live or raise offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves; or may simply be a depression in the ground, or a hole in a tree, rock or building. Human-made materials, such as string, plastic, cloth, hair or paper, may be used.

Generally each species has a distinctive style of nest. Nests can be found in many different habitats. They are built primarily by birds, but also by mammals (e.g. squirrels), fish, insects (e.g. wasps, termites and honey bees) and reptiles (e.g. snakes and turtles).

The urge to prepare an area for the building of a nest is referred to as the nesting instinct and may occur in both mammals and birds.

Contents

Bird nest

Most species of birds build some sort of nest, though some lay their eggs directly onto rock ledges or bare soil without first modifying the area.

Nest types vary from the very simple scrape, which is merely a shallow depression in soil or vegetation, to the elaborately woven pendant or sphere. Some birds will build nests in trees, some (such as vultures, eagles, and many seabirds like Kittiwakes) will build them on rocky ledges, and others nest on the ground or in burrows.

They may have some or all of the following zones: attachment; outer decorative layer; structural layer; lining.

Names of nests

Gallery

See also

References

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - rede
v. intr. - bygge rede, anbringe (inden i hinanden)
v. tr. - indlejre

idioms:

  • fly the nest    flytte hjemmefra, forlade boet
  • leave the nest    flytte hjemmefra, forlade boet
  • nest egg    redeæg, spareskilling

Nederlands (Dutch)
nest, broeinest, optrekje, zwerm/ verzameling, nestelen, nesten (uithalen), in elkaar passen

Français (French)
n. - nid, nichée, série, nid (de criminels)
v. intr. - faire son nid, s'insérer, s'emboîter
v. tr. - nicher, emboîter

idioms:

  • fly the nest    quitter le nid familial
  • leave the nest    quitter le nid familial
  • nest egg    magot

Deutsch (German)
n. - Nest, Zufluchtsort, Brutstätte, Satz, Brut, Schwarm
v. - nisten, Nester ausnehmen, ineinanderpassen

idioms:

  • fly the nest    aus dem Elternhaus ausziehen
  • leave the nest    das Nest verlassen, flügge werden
  • nest egg    Nestei, Notgroschen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - φωλιά, λημέρι, άντρο, σμήνος (εντόμων κ.λπ.), γέννα πουλιών
v. - φωλιάζω, κουρνιάζω, (Η/Υ) ενσωματώνω υπορουτίνα σε ρουτίνα, εμφωλεύω

idioms:

  • fly the nest    εγκαταλείπω την οικογενειακή εστία, παίρνω το δρόμο μου
  • leave the nest    εγκαταλείπω την οικογενειακή εστία, παίρνω το δρόμο μου
  • nest egg    αβγομάνα, πρόσφωλο, φώλι, (μτφ.) κομπόδεμα, αποκούμπι

Italiano (Italian)
nidificare, nido

idioms:

  • feather one's nest    far soldi
  • fly the nest    lasciare il nido
  • leave the nest    andarsene
  • nest egg    gruzzolo

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ninho (m), toca (f), jogo (m)
v. - aninhar, procurar e tirar ninhos de pássaros

idioms:

  • feather one's nest    aproveitar-se de oportunidades para enriquecer
  • fly the nest    sair de casa (especialmente crianças)
  • leave the nest    abandonar o ninho
  • nest egg    economias

Русский (Russian)
гнездиться, гнездо

idioms:

  • feather one's nest    греть руки
  • fly the nest    покинуть отчий дом
  • leave the nest    покинуть отчий дом
  • nest egg    сбережения

Español (Spanish)
n. - nido, querencia, guarida
v. intr. - anidar, encajar, empalmar
v. tr. - poner en un nido o como en un nido

idioms:

  • fly the nest    abandonar la casa paterna
  • leave the nest    abandonar la casa paterna, salir del nido
  • nest egg    nidal, ahorrillos

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - rede, bo, krypin, näste, kull, liga, sats(bord)
v. - bygga bo, förpacka, kapsla

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
巢, 休息所, 窝, 筑巢, 找鸟巢, 造巢, 使套入

idioms:

  • fly the nest    出外独立生活
  • leave the nest    出外独立生活
  • nest egg    留窝蛋, 储蓄金

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 巢, 休息所, 窩
v. intr. - 築巢, 找鳥巢
v. tr. - 造巢, 使套入

idioms:

  • fly the nest    出外獨立生活
  • leave the nest    出外獨立生活
  • nest egg    留窩蛋, 儲蓄金

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 보금자리, 피난처, 소굴,온상
v. intr. - 새집을 찾다, 보금자리를 짓다
v. tr. - 보금자리를 지어주다, (상자 등을)포개 넣다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 巣, 巣の中のもの, 群れ, 巣窟, 温床, 居ごこちのよい場所, 休憩所, 入れ子一組, 休息所
v. - 巣を作る, 巣に入れる, 入れ子式にする, 入れ子になる

idioms:

  • crow's nest    クローネスト, 見張所
  • mare's nest    幻の大発見, 実はつまらないもの, 期待外れ
  • nest egg    抱き卵, 準備金

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) عش, مأوى, وكر (فعل) يبنى عشا او مأوى, يضع في العش‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮בית, קן, מקלט, מקום מיסתור, מערכת שחילה, קבוצת דברים בגדלים שונים המותאמים לאיחסון יחד, מאורה‬
v. intr. - ‮קינן, השחיל, סידר זה בתוך זה, בנה קן, ליקט קנים וביצים, התאימו זה לזה‬
v. tr. - ‮קבע את קנו ב-, סידר זה בתוך זה, שיבץ בתוך‬


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Proverb, Malabar (Quotes By)
termiticole (ecology)