Nesting

//ˈnɛstɪŋ// name, noun, verb

name, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
The process by which a bird nests. countable, uncountable
2
An arrangement by which one thing is nested inside another. countable, uncountable
"the nesting of Russian dolls"
3
The enclosure of one self-contained element of code inside another. countable, uncountable
"The positioning of a control structure inside another control structure is called nesting e.g. nested-IF and nested-loop."

Verb

1
present participle and gerund of nest form-of, gerund, participle, present

Proper Noun

1
A parish on the east coast of Mainland, Shetland Islands council area, Scotland.

Synonyms

abiding abode altricial anserine anserous aquiline

Example

"Except when nesting, swifts spend their lives in the air, living on the insects caught in flight; they drink, feed, mate and sleep on the wing."

Etymology

From Old Norse nes + þing, the ting (assembly) at the ness; there are a few nesses in the area.

Related phrases

North Nesting South Nesting bird-nesting empty nesting nesting box nesting doll nesting ground

More for "nesting"

Synonyms Sentences Pronunciation Translate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation Browse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.