nestle

C2 Topic:Verbs of Movement

US /ˈnɛsəl/ UK /ˈnesəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #52869

Meanings

1

verb
to settle or press oneself closely into a comfortable, sheltered, or affectionate position

The child began to nestle against her father's shoulder.
2

verb
to place someone or something in a snug, sheltered position

She nestled the vase between two folded blankets for the journey.
3

verb
to lie in a sheltered or partly hidden position

A stone cottage seemed to nestle beneath the wooded hill.
4

noun
a close, affectionate embrace or snuggle

The sleepy child gave her mother one last nestle before bed.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to settle or press oneself... snuggle cuddle nuzzlecurl up

2 verb · to place someone or... tuck settle ensconce

3 verb · to lie in a sheltered or... shelter sit lie

4 noun · a close, affectionate... snuggle cuddle embrace

Opposites

separate withdraw

Word family

Forms nestled

Derived forms nestlernestlinglyunnestle

Related forms nest snuggle nuzzle

Etymology

From Middle English nestelen, from Old English nestlian ('to make or occupy a nest'), formed from nest with a frequentative suffix. The image of settling into a nest developed into the modern senses of snuggling closely and lying in a sheltered place.

Topics

Verbs of Movement

External links

# nestle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈnɛsəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈnesəl/
**Frequency rank:** 52869

## Meanings
1. to settle or press oneself closely into a comfortable, sheltered, or affectionate position
2. to place someone or something in a snug, sheltered position
3. to lie in a sheltered or partly hidden position
4. a close, affectionate embrace or snuggle

## Examples
- The child began to nestle against her father's shoulder.
- She nestled the vase between two folded blankets for the journey.
- A stone cottage seemed to nestle beneath the wooded hill.
- The sleepy child gave her mother one last nestle before bed.

## Synonyms
- snuggle
- cuddle
- nuzzle
- tuck
- ensconce

## Antonyms
- separate
- withdraw

## Derived Forms
- nestler
- nestlingly
- unnestle

## Related Forms
- nest
- snuggle
- nuzzle

## Etymology
From Middle English nestelen, from Old English nestlian ('to make or occupy a nest'), formed from nest with a frequentative suffix. The image of settling into a nest developed into the modern senses of snuggling closely and lying in a sheltered place.

## Topics
- Verbs of Movement

markdown