nestle

WOTD - 15 August 2007    

English

Etymology

Old English nestlian, "make a nest", derived from nest+-lian.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈnɛsəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛsəl

Verb

nestle (third-person singular simple present nestles, present participle nestling, simple past and past participle nestled)

1. To settle oneself comfortably and snugly.
2. To press oneself against another affectionately.
3. To lie half-hidden or in shelter.

   The old shop nestled between the newer apartment buildings.

4. (archaic, ornithology) To build or sit upon a nest.

Synonyms

• (to settle oneself comfortably): settle
• (to press oneself against another affectionately): cuddle, snuggle

Related terms

• nest

Translations

To settle oneself comfortably and snugly

Croatian: ugnijezditi se Finnish: käpertyä (fi) French: se pelotonner, se nicher

German: es sich gemütlich machen Polish: zagnieździć się (pl) Portuguese: aconchegar-se (pt)

To press oneself against another affectionately

Croatian: privijati, privinuti, priljubiti, pripiti se Finnish: painautua mukavasti jotakin vasten

French: se pelotonner (fr) German: sich anschmiegen