nesting
nesting — noun
1. the act of making a nest and tending to eggs, chicks, or newborn animals inside
the act of making a nest and tending to eggs, chicks, or newborn animals inside it
Every spring, the robins on Lakshmi’s balcony begin nesting, gathering twigs and dry grass.
collocation: begin nesting / nesting season
Bilal read a book about the nesting of sea turtles on tropical beaches.
The nesting season for these birds lasts from March to July.
Naturalists set up cameras to observe the nesting of a rare eagle in the mountains.
- brooding
focuses specifically on sitting on eggs to keep them warm, while 'nesting' covers the full process including nest construction
用法筆記
Uncountable noun. Often combined with 'season', 'site', or 'grounds' to specify where and when birds or animals reproduce.
常見錯誤
❗ 'The bird is doing nesting on the tree.' ✅ 'The bird is nesting in the tree.' — 'nesting' as a noun does not combine with 'do'; use the verb form to describe the action directly.
2. the actions a person takes to get their home ready ahead of a new baby’s birth
the actions a person takes to get their home ready ahead of a new baby’s birth
In her third trimester, Imani felt a strong nesting urge and began painting the nursery.
collocation: nesting urge / nesting instinct
During her nesting phase, Maria organised the baby clothes by size and colour.
collocation: nesting phase
Kian’s nesting included deep-cleaning every room and stocking the freezer with meals.
The midwife explained that nesting is common in late pregnancy.
用法筆記
Uncountable noun. Usually describes a strong behavioural drive experienced by some pregnant people during the final weeks before childbirth.
nesting — adjective
- nestingpositive
- more nestingcomparative
- most nestingsuperlative
1. describes a bird or animal that stays with its eggs or babies in a nest and look
describes a bird or animal that stays with its eggs or babies in a nest and looks after them
The nesting mother bird refused to leave her eggs even when it rained.
Indra spotted a nesting hen sitting on a warm clutch of eggs in the barn.
pattern: nesting + [animal] + sitting on eggs
Visitors must keep their distance from nesting seabirds along the cliff path.
The nesting crocodile guarded her mound of eggs day and night.
- brooding
'brooding' implies active incubation via body warmth, while 'nesting' covers a wider range of care behaviours
用法筆記
Typically used before a noun describing an animal (e.g. 'nesting bird', 'nesting turtle'). Not used for animals that lay eggs and abandon them.
2. intended for creatures that are raising eggs or offspring in a nest
intended for creatures that are raising eggs or offspring in a nest
Brandon bought a nesting box and hung it in the apple tree for blue tits.
collocation: nesting box
The pet store sells special nesting material for hamsters and mice.
collocation: nesting material
The wildlife centre set up a nesting platform for the storks on the roof.
These nesting pouches are designed for small tree-dwelling mammals.
用法筆記
Always attributive — placed before a noun like 'box', 'material', 'site', or 'area'. Describes objects or places, not the animals themselves.
3. connected with the time when soon-to-be parents get their household organised be
connected with the time when soon-to-be parents get their household organised before childbirth
Eleni experienced a strong nesting urge during the last month of her pregnancy.
collocation: nesting urge
The nesting phase often includes washing baby clothes and setting up the cot.
collocation: nesting phase
Nesting checklists often include packing a hospital bag and installing the car seat.
The nesting preparations made Kian and his partner feel more ready for labour.
用法筆記
Commonly modifies 'instinct', 'urge', 'phase', or 'preparations'. Almost always used before a noun.
4. designed so that each object fits neatly inside the next larger one, forming a c
designed so that each object fits neatly inside the next larger one, forming a compact set
Luca bought a set of nesting tables that slide under each other to save space.
collocation: nesting tables / nesting bowls / nesting dolls
The kitchen came with nesting bowls in four sizes, from tiny to large.
These traditional Russian nesting dolls open in the middle to reveal a smaller doll inside.
A nesting set of measuring cups takes up very little drawer space.
- stackable
'stackable' items go on top of each other, while 'nesting' items go inside each other
用法筆記
Always attributive. Describes objects made in graduated sizes that fit inside one another for compact storage.
nesting — verb
- nestingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- nestings3rd person singular
- nestinging-ing form
- nestingedpast simple
1. when a bird or animal builds a nest or occupies one, especially to raise its you
when a bird or animal builds a nest or occupies one, especially to raise its young
Swallows nest under the eaves of Yael’s house every summer.
pattern: [animal] + nest + [location]
The robins nested in the hedge behind the garden shed last spring.
Zebra finches prefer to nest in tall, dry grass near water.
These parrots usually nest inside hollow tree trunks in the rainforest.
- roost
'roost' means to rest or sleep in a place at night, not necessarily to build a nest or raise young
文法句型
nest + (prepositional phrase of location)
用法筆記
Intransitive only. The subject is always an animal that builds or uses a nest. The location follows prepositions like 'in', 'under', 'inside', or 'among'.
常見錯誤
❗ 'The bird nested a nest in the tree.' ✅ 'The bird nested in the tree.' — 'nest' as a verb already includes the idea of building a nest; do not add 'a nest' as an object.
2. to fit closely inside one another, or to arrange objects so that they sit snugly
to fit closely inside one another, or to arrange objects so that they sit snugly inside each other for storage
The new mixing bowls nest neatly inside one another for compact storage.
intransitive: [objects] + nest + inside one another
Mizuki nested the smaller suitcases inside the largest one before the trip.
transitive: nest + [objects] + inside + [container]
The chairs are designed to nest under the dining table when not in use.
Lakshmi nested the colourful plastic cups inside each other for the party.
- stack
'stack' means to place on top of each other, while 'nest' means to place one inside another
文法句型
[objects] + nest + inside one another
nest + [objects] + inside + [container]
用法筆記
Can be transitive (you nest the bowls) or intransitive (the bowls nest). Intransitive use is more common in product descriptions.
3. to place one piece of information, code, or data inside another at a different l
to place one piece of information, code, or data inside another at a different level in a structured system
The programmer nested the if-statement inside a for-loop to check each item.
technical domain: nested loops / nested functions
Caleb nested his folders by year, with subfolders for each month inside.
HTML authors nest tags inside one another to create the page layout.
The tax forms have nested sections where each sub-total feeds into the next.
文法句型
nest + [item] + inside/within + [structure]
用法筆記
Common in computing and information organisation. The transitive form dominates ('nest X inside Y'). The enclosing structure can be code blocks, folders, lists, or any hierarchy.