DictionaryAI

nestling

NEST-ling/ˈnɛstlɪŋ/
As a verbNES-ling

Pluralnestlings

4 meanings of nestling

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable
    A baby bird that is still too young to leave its nest.

    We saw three nestlings with their mouths wide open, waiting for food.

    Please don't touch the nestling, because its mother will come back soon.

    Similarchick

    Note
  2. 2
    verb
    Present participle and gerund of nestle. Use it after "is" or "was", or as a noun for the act.

    The cat was nestling into the warm blanket.

    The little village lies nestling between two hills.

    Note
  3. 3
    NES-ling/ˈnɛslɪŋ/
    noununcountable
    Getting into a warm, cozy position, or cuddling up close to someone.

    After a little nestling under the blankets, the children fell asleep.

    There was a lot of happy nestling on the couch once the movie started.

    Similarsnuggling, cuddling

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nounobsolete
    A nest, or any place where something is kept or held.
    Note

nestling is a form of nestle

nestle, verb: To lie in a sheltered place, or partly hidden by the things around it. Full entry

Forms
nestlenestles he/she/itnestling -ing formnestled past tense, past participle
Spelling
nestle → nestling: drop the e, add -ing

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 4

It comes from "nest" with the ending "-ling". It was already used in Middle English.

Meanings 2–3

It comes from "nestle" with the ending "-ing".