Standard Lemma guide

nestle

name · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈnɛsəl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛsəl
  • CMU ARPABET: N EH1 S AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: N EH1 S L IY1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A surname from German.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To settle oneself comfortably and snugly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: snudge

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To press oneself against another affectionately.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cuddle, snuggle

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To lie half-hidden or in shelter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The old shop nestled between the newer apartment buildings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To build or sit upon a nest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, intransitive

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, ornithology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

Of a bird: to look after its young.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, ornithology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To move or place into a comfortable position

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cuddle, snuggle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: embrace, embracing, embracement

9

verb

Meaning 9

move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We cuddled against each other to keep warm
  • The children snuggled into their sleeping bags

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cuddle, snuggle, nest, nuzzle, draw close

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cling to, hold close, hold tight, clutch

10

verb

Meaning 10

position comfortably

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The baby nestled her head in her mother's elbow

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: snuggle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: put, set, place, pose, position, lay

11

verb

Meaning 11

lie in a sheltered position

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The little cottage nestles in the forest

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lie

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Swiss German Nestle.

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”).

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: տեղավորվել (teġavorvel) — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Bulgarian: настанявам се (nastanjavam se) — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Finnish: käpertyä — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • French: se pelotonner — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • French: se nicher — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Galician: aconchegar — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • German: es sich gemütlich machen — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Italian: accomodarsi — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Māori: kōpipiri — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Polish: zagnieździć się — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Portuguese: aconchegar-se — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Russian: гнезди́ться (gnezdítʹsja) — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Russian: угнезди́ться (ugnezdítʹsja) — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Russian: мости́ться (mostítʹsja) — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Russian: примости́ться (primostítʹsja) — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Serbo-Croatian: ugnezditi se — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Serbo-Croatian: ugnijezditi se — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Spanish: acomodarse — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Spanish: acurrucarse — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Swedish: nästla — to settle oneself comfortably and snugly
  • Bulgarian: сгушвам се (sgušvam se) — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Finnish: painautua mukavasti jotakin vasten — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • French: se pelotonner — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • German: sich anschmiegen — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Hindi: चिपकना (cipaknā) — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Hindi: सटना (saṭnā) — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Polish: przytulić się — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Russian: прижима́ться (prižimátʹsja) — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Russian: прижа́ться (prižátʹsja) — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Russian: льнуть (lʹnutʹ) — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Russian: прильну́ть (prilʹnútʹ) — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Serbo-Croatian: privijati — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Serbo-Croatian: privinuti — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Serbo-Croatian: priljubiti — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Serbo-Croatian: pripiti se — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Spanish: acomodarse — to press oneself against another affectionately
  • Spanish: acurrucarse — to press oneself against another affectionately