nestle
/ˈnɛs(ə)l
/verb [no object, with adverbial of place]
1Settle or lie comfortably within or against something: the baby nestled in her arms [with object]: she nestled her head against his shoulder...
- Mrs Grey Dove now has small brown hopping babies that nestle under her maternal wings at night.
- There is a more or less serious argument about contemporary culture nestling within this gleeful demolition job, but it does not become apparent until about halfway through the narrative.
- There is even a Thompson mouse nestling within one of the upper panels of the heavy iron-studded double doors of St William's College.
Synonyms
snuggle, cuddle (up), curl up, huddle, nuzzle, settle, lie close, burrow;
North American snug down
1.1(Of a place) be situated in a half-hidden or sheltered position: picturesque villages nestle in the wooded hills...
- The next day she said the landscape as they cruised along the River Rhine was very picturesque with little villages nestling in the hills.
- Lahardane is a picturesque village nestling at the foot of Nephin and easily accessible from all major North Mayo areas.
- The tiny village of Clonegal nestles in a picturesque valley, deep in the lush, rolling countryside where counties Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow meet.
Origin
Old English nestlian, from nest; compare with Dutch nestelen.