nests

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of nest.

   Wasps' nests hung from the eaves throughout the summer.

   The hillside was dotted with the nests of ground-dwelling birds.

   Note

   A regular plural that carries every meaning of the singular, not only the bird's. Besides the egg-laying places of fish, insects and amphibians, it covers snug homes, habitual retreats and the dens where bad company gathers. Context separates it from the verb form with the same spelling. In "the swallow nests under the eaves" it is something a bird does, while in "the swallows' nests" it is something a bird builds.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of nest.

   This species nests on rocky cliffs near the open sea.

   The eagle nests high in the canyon walls each year.

   Note

   The verb behind this form works both with and without an object. Without one, a bird nests on a cliff, a young couple nests in a new home, or a set of bowls nests, each fitting inside the next. With one, someone nests the bowls, placing each inside another. Only the first uses keep the picture of shelter. The fitting sense is about shape, so read the subject before assuming a bird is involved.

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