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
Clement Moore2
: to press closely and affectionately
nestles a kitten in her arms
nestler
ˈne-s(ə-)lər
noun 
Synonyms
- cuddle
- nuzzle
- snoozle [chiefly dialect]
- snuggle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Guests of this stunning blend of rock and modern design will nestle into the side of Sleeping Ute Mountain, a rock face that sits just 40 minutes from the famed cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park. J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 17 June 2022 This autumn/fall season sees the company detail three new products which all nestle into its umbrella Tibco Cloud offering. Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2021 The chains and rings nestle together with others of their kind and can aggregate to form ever larger masses: cosmic soot. Harold Mcgee, WSJ, 24 Oct. 2020 For such profound propinquity, move from the free-flowing oceans to the more structured world of soil, where potential self-sacrificers can nestle next to each other. The Economist, 20 Aug. 2020 Select a flat piece of land visible from a window, patio or balcony, or nestle it in a part of the yard that provides a safe space to walk, relax and reflect. oregonlive, 28 Apr. 2020 Similar to its neighbor Rwanda, which is nestled just to the north, Burundi has been rocked by past violence and is composed largely of people from the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups. Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 15 Feb. 2020 Transfer pork to the sheet with squash, nestling it in as necessary, and roast to internal temperature of 145°F, 5 to 8 minutes; transfer to a cutting board. Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, 22 Jan. 2020 Transfer the cabbage mixture to the baking sheet, spreading it evenly, and return the chicken, skin-side up, to the sheet, nestling it in the cabbage. Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2020 See More
J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 17 June 2022 This autumn/fall season sees the company detail three new products which all nestle into its umbrella Tibco Cloud offering. Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2021 The chains and rings nestle together with others of their kind and can aggregate to form ever larger masses: cosmic soot. Harold Mcgee, WSJ, 24 Oct. 2020 For such profound propinquity, move from the free-flowing oceans to the more structured world of soil, where potential self-sacrificers can nestle next to each other. The Economist, 20 Aug. 2020 Select a flat piece of land visible from a window, patio or balcony, or nestle it in a part of the yard that provides a safe space to walk, relax and reflect. oregonlive, 28 Apr. 2020 Similar to its neighbor Rwanda, which is nestled just to the north, Burundi has been rocked by past violence and is composed largely of people from the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups. Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 15 Feb. 2020 Transfer pork to the sheet with squash, nestling it in as necessary, and roast to internal temperature of 145°F, 5 to 8 minutes; transfer to a cutting board. Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, 22 Jan. 2020 Transfer the cabbage mixture to the baking sheet, spreading it evenly, and return the chicken, skin-side up, to the sheet, nestling it in the cabbage. Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2020 See More 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 ˈne-səl
nestled; nestling
ˈnes-liŋ,
-ə-liŋ
1
: to lie close and snug : cuddle
2
: to be located snugly or in a place not easily noticed
The village nestles in a valley.
nestled
verb
1
as in snuggled
to lie close nestled in next to the other kittens in the box Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- snuggled
- nuzzled
- cuddled
- crouched
- curled up
- snoozled
- huddled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- shrank
- shrunk
- recoiled
- started
- winced
- shied
- flinched
- quailed
- blenched
2
as in snugged
to sit or recline comfortably or cozily nestling with her children on the couch Synonyms & Similar Words
- snuggled
- snugged
- crouched
- curled up
- burrowed
- huddled
- couched
- squatted
- hunched
- scrunched
- hunkered (down)
- squinched
3
as in perched
to establish or place comfortably or snugly we had scarcely nestled the children in their beds when there was a knock at the door Synonyms & Similar Words
- perched
- lodged
- positioned
- parked
- ensconced
- situated
- located
- settled
- planted
- roosted
- installed
- housed
- stationed
- anchored
- deployed
- emplaced
- burrowed
- camped
- set
- bivouacked
- curled up
- harbored
- dug in
- fixed
- camped (out)