# nestling

Pronunciation: say "NEST-ling" /ˈnɛstlɪŋ/

## Noun

1. A small young bird that is not yet able to leave the nest.
   - Simple: A baby bird that is still too young to leave its nest.
   - _The robin made dozens of trips an hour to feed her hungry nestlings._
   - _The storm brought down the nest, but a neighbor found the nestling alive in the grass._
3. The act of settling snugly into a comfortable spot or pressing close against someone with affection. (pronounced: say "NES-ling" /ˈnɛslɪŋ/)
   - Simple: Getting into a warm, cozy position, or cuddling up close to someone.
   - _The baby's sleepy nestling against her shoulder told her it was time for bed._
   - _After some contented nestling into the deep armchair, Grandpa was snoring._

## Verb

Pronunciation: say "NES-ling" /ˈnɛslɪŋ/

2. Present participle and gerund of nestle. — present participle and gerund of nestle
   - Simple: Present participle and gerund of nestle. Use it after "is" or "was", or as a noun for the act.
   - _Nestling into the corner of the sofa, she opened her book._
   - _We rented a cabin nestling among the pines at the edge of the lake._

## Noun

4. A nest, or more generally a place that holds or receives something. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A nest, or any place where something is kept or held.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 4** — From Middle English nestling, equivalent to nest and the suffix -ling.
**Meanings 2–3** — Formed from nestle and the suffix -ing.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/nestling (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).