nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈne-səl 

nestled; nestling ˈne-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

archaic : nest sense 1

2

: to settle snugly or comfortably

3

: to lie in an inconspicuous or sheltered manner

transitive verb

1

: to settle, shelter, or house in or as if in a nest

the children were nestled all snug in their beds

—Clement Moore

2

: to press closely and affectionately

nestles a kitten in her arms

nestler

ˈne-s(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

• cuddle
• nuzzle
• snoozle [chiefly dialect]
• snuggle

Examples of nestle in a Sentence

He nestled his head against his mother's shoulder.

She carefully nestled the hamster into its cage.

The fly ball nestled into the outfielder's glove.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is particularly a problem when cooking bacon on the stovetop as most skillets are already just wide enough to nestle the strips inside, let alone after they’re stretched out. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025

This rare fish, known for its vibrant colors and unique features, was found in the Kalimpong District, nestled between Nepal and Bhutan. —Stories By Real-Time News Team, With Ai Summarization, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025

Consider spoon or red currant tomatoes, about the size of peas, two dozen of which can comfortably nestle on a tablespoon. —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2025

It can be found nestled under kitchen sinks and stored in the back of garages. —Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English nestlian, from nest

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

nestle

verb

nes·​tle ˈnes-əl 

nestled; nestling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to lie close and snug : cuddle

2

: to settle as if in a nest

nestler

-(ə-)lər 

noun