Library / English Dictionary

NESTLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace

Synonyms:

cuddle; nestle; snuggle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("nestle" is a kind of...):

embrace; embracement; embracing (the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection))

Derivation:

nestle (move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

Example:

The children snuggled into their sleeping bags

Synonyms:

cuddle; draw close; nest; nestle; nuzzle; snuggle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "nestle" is one way to...):

cling to; clutch; hold close; hold tight (hold firmly, usually with one's hands)

Verb group:

nestle; snuggle (position comfortably)

draw close (pull towards oneself)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

The children nestle in the rocking chair

There nestle some children in the rocking chair

Derivation:

nestle (a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Position comfortably

Example:

The baby nestled her head in her mother's elbow

Synonyms:

nestle; snuggle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "nestle" is one way to...):

lay; place; pose; position; put; set (put into a certain place or abstract location)

Verb group:

cuddle; draw close; nest; nestle; nuzzle; snuggle (move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lie in a sheltered position

Example:

The little cottage nestles in the forest

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "nestle" is one way to...):

lie (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

Nestled there, it’s protected from the solar wind, making its shape different from other magnetospheres in the solar system.

(Fresh Results from NASA’s Galileo Spacecraft 20 Years On, NASA)

But as she sat she bethought herself of the egg that the moon had given her; and when she broke it, there ran out a hen and twelve chickens of pure gold, that played about, and then nestled under the old one’s wings, so as to form the most beautiful sight in the world.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“I had only my own family to study from. There is my father—another of my father—but the idea of sitting for his picture made him so nervous, that I could only take him by stealth; neither of them very like therefore. Mrs. Weston again, and again, and again, you see. Dear Mrs. Weston! always my kindest friend on every occasion. She would sit whenever I asked her. There is my sister; and really quite her own little elegant figure!—and the face not unlike. I should have made a good likeness of her, if she would have sat longer, but she was in such a hurry to have me draw her four children that she would not be quiet. Then, here come all my attempts at three of those four children;—there they are, Henry and John and Bella, from one end of the sheet to the other, and any one of them might do for any one of the rest. She was so eager to have them drawn that I could not refuse; but there is no making children of three or four years old stand still you know; nor can it be very easy to take any likeness of them, beyond the air and complexion, unless they are coarser featured than any of mama's children ever were. Here is my sketch of the fourth, who was a baby. I took him as he was sleeping on the sofa, and it is as strong a likeness of his cockade as you would wish to see. He had nestled down his head most conveniently. That's very like. I am rather proud of little George. The corner of the sofa is very good. Then here is my last,”—unclosing a pretty sketch of a gentleman in small size, whole-length—“my last and my best—my brother, Mr. John Knightley.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I did so: she put her arm over me, and I nestled close to her.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She was sobbing and nestling close against him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Jip nestled closer to his mistress, and lazily licked her hand.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Too weak to wonder at anything, she only smiled and nestled close in the loving arms about her, feeling that the hungry longing was satisfied at last.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Gentle, soft dream, nestling in my arms now, you will fly, too, as your sisters have all fled before you: but kiss me before you go—embrace me, Jane.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She nestled against him, and then, with a change of position, her hands crept up and rested upon his neck.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But seeing me, she called me her dear Davy, her own boy! and coming half across the room to meet me, kneeled down upon the ground and kissed me, and laid my head down on her bosom near the little creature that was nestling there, and put its hand to my lips.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)