Word
nestle
Phoneticsnes·tle
US/ˈnɛsˈɫi/
UK/nˈɛsəl/
Definition
v. to sit or lie in a comfortable position, often in a small space. You use this when you are curled up in a warm, safe place.
v. to sit or lie in a comfortable, snug position; to be positioned closely together in a confined space. Often used to describe the physical act of curling up for warmth or comfort.
Examples
“She likes to nestle into the corner of the sofa.”
“The baby nestles against its mother's chest to find warmth and comfort during the cold night.”
“The small bird nestles into the thick moss of the tree trunk, perfectly camouflaged from the eyes of its predators.”
Examples
simple
“She likes to nestle into the corner of the sofa.”
contextual
“The baby nestles against its mother's chest to find warmth and comfort during the cold night.”
complex
“The small bird nestles into the thick moss of the tree trunk, perfectly camouflaged from the eyes of its predators.”
Real-World Examples
Common in culture and sport writing
“Nestled among three lakes and the Black Sea, it has an established tourism industry and is a popular seaside destination among Bulgarian and international tourists.” “The fringiest shows, I realise, are visible in plain sight if you look, and often nestling in the smaller spaces of established venues.” Etymology
From Middle English nestelen, nestlen, from Old English nistlan, nestlian, nistlian (“to make or build a nest”), from Proto-West Germanic *nistilōn (“to build or occupy a nest; nestle”), equivalent to nest + -le. Cognate with Middle Low German nëstelen (“to build a nest”), Dutch nestelen (“to nest, nestle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.