nested
nested — 形容詞
- nestedpositive
- more nestedcomparative
- most nestedsuperlative
1. describes objects of different sizes that are designed so each smaller one fits
套疊的
一個套入另一個的物品
describes objects of different sizes that are designed so each smaller one fits into the cavity of the next larger one, saving storage space when not in use.
The apartment came with a set of nested tables that could be separated when guests arrived.
這間公寓附了一組套疊桌，客人來的時候可以分開使用。
attributive: nested + noun (tables)
Gita stored her spices in three nested wooden bowls that fit perfectly on the shelf.
Gita 把香料收在三只套疊木碗裡，放在架上剛剛好。
The children's toy set included five nested blocks, each one slightly smaller than the last.
那組兒童玩具有五個套疊積木，每個都比前一個略小一號。
nested + noun (blocks) — size progression pattern
Camila bought a nested lunchbox set that saved plenty of space in her work bag.
Camila 買了一組套疊式午餐盒，在她的工作包裡省下不少空間。
Those nested measuring cups come held together by a ring in the kitchen drawer.
那些套疊量杯用一個環圈固定住，收在抽屜裡不會散開。
nested + compound noun (measuring cups)
- nested tables
- nested bowls
- nested blocks
- nested measuring cups
- nested lunchbox
- set of nested
- stackable
suggests objects placed on top of each other, not inside one another
- interlocking
suggests pieces that join together, not necessarily fitting inside one another
文法句型
nested + noun (tables/bowls/boxes/measuring cups)
用法筆記
Frequently used for furniture (nested tables), kitchenware (nested bowls, measuring cups), and toys (nested blocks). The objects are usually sold together as a matching set and are often described in product catalogues as 'nesting' or 'nested'.
常見錯誤
2. describes a piece of code, data structure, or markup that is placed at a deeper
巢狀的
程式或資料層層嵌入的
describes a piece of code, data structure, or markup that is placed at a deeper level inside another of the same kind — for example, a loop inside a loop, a tag inside a tag, or an object inside an object.
The compiler crashed because the programmer wrote too many nested if-statements.
編譯器當掉了，因為程式設計師寫了太多層巢狀 if 陳述式。
nested + noun (if-statements) — computing
Jenna simplified the nested loops by moving part of the code into a separate function.
Jenna 把部分程式碼移到獨立的函數裡，簡化了那些巢狀迴圈。
You should avoid deeply nested HTML tags because they make the page harder to maintain.
你應該避免使用過深巢狀的 HTML 標籤，因為那會使網頁更難維護。
adverb + nested: deeply nested [noun]
The developer used three nested for-loops to search through the multi-dimensional array.
開發者用了三層巢狀 for 迴圈來搜尋多維陣列。
number + nested + noun: three nested for-loops
Hassan's code had dozens of nested parentheses, and fixing one bracket broke everything.
Hassan 的程式碼有幾十層巢狀括號，改一個括號就讓整個程式不能跑了。
- nested loops
- nested functions
- nested if-statements
- nested tags
- nested brackets
- nested JSON
- deeply nested
- heavily nested
- embedded
broader; does not require the embedded and embedding elements to be of the same type
- hierarchical
describes the overall structure, not specifically one element inside another of the same type
- flat
describes data or code with no hierarchical nesting, all at the same level
- sequential
describes code that runs in a straight line without inner structures
文法句型
nested + noun (loop/function/if-statement/tag/JSON object/parentheses)
用法筆記
Extremely common in all programming languages and markup. 'Deeply nested' (more than 3 levels) is often considered poor coding practice — a warning called the 'arrow anti-pattern' because the code shape resembles arrows pointing right. Common in discussions of loops, conditionals, try-catch blocks, JSON objects, HTML elements, and CSS selectors.
常見錯誤
3. describes groups, levels, or categories that are arranged inside each other in a
層層的
多層級結構的
describes groups, levels, or categories that are arranged inside each other in a hierarchy, where each layer contains smaller sub-units of the same kind.
The firm's nested management structure meant every decision went through five layers.
公司層層疊疊的管理結構意味著每個決定都要經過五個層級。
nested + noun (management structure) — organisational
Ari organised his notes into nested categories, with sub-topics under each main heading.
Ari 把筆記整理成層層分類，每個主標題下都有次主題。
The team used nested folders to keep project files organised by year and month.
團隊使用層層資料夾，依照年份和月份來整理專案檔案。
nested + noun (folders) — organisational
Reuben studied the nested relationships between different species in the forest ecosystem.
Reuben 研究了森林生態系中不同物種之間的層層關係。
The company created nested user groups where a team leader belongs to multiple teams at once.
公司建立了層層的使用者群組，團隊主管可以同時屬於多個團隊。
nested + compound noun (user groups) — IT/access control
- nested categories
- nested folders
- nested groups
- nested relationships
- nested hierarchy
- nested structure
- nested levels
- hierarchical
emphasises the ranking or ordering of levels; slightly more formal than 'nested'
- layered
describes levels stacked on top of each other, not necessarily one category inside another
- flat
describes a structure with a single level and no hierarchy
文法句型
nested + noun (categories/folders/relationships/levels)
用法筆記
Used broadly across organisational charts, file systems, biological taxonomy, and databases. Unlike the computing sense, which specifically means code or data objects containing others of the same type, this sense describes any system with multiple layers of containment where each level can contain sub-levels. Not used for physical objects — that is sense 1.
常見錯誤
nested — 動詞
- nestedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- nesteds3rd person singular
- nesteding-ing form
- nestededpast simple
1. when a bird or other wild animal makes a nest in a particular place and uses it
築巢
鳥類或動物築巢育幼
when a bird or other wild animal makes a nest in a particular place and uses it to lay eggs or raise young.
A pair of blue tits nested in the hole of the old apple tree last spring.
去年春天，一對藍山雀在老蘋果樹的樹洞裡築了巢。
intransitive: nest + in [location]
Sea turtles return to the same stretch of beach where they nested years before.
海龜會回到多年前自己築巢的同片沙灘上產卵。
The blackbirds nested under the porch roof and raised three chicks successfully.
那些黑鶇在門廊頂下築巢，成功養大了三隻幼鳥。
nest + under [location]
Salma watched the swallows nesting in the barn rafters every summer of her childhood.
Salma 童年時每個夏天都會觀看燕子在穀倉屋椽上築巢。
progressive: nesting in [location]
Rabbits sometimes nest in tall grass at the edge of the garden to hide their young.
兔子有時會在花園邊緣的長草叢中築巢，以隱藏牠們的幼兔。
- nest in a tree
- nest on a cliff
- nest under the eaves
- nest in the grass
- nesting season
- roost
means to settle or rest for the night, not necessarily to build a nest or raise young
文法句型
nest + prepositional phrase (in/on/under)
用法筆記
This sense describes the root verb 'nest' — the action of building or using a physical nest. Almost always used intransitively. A location phrase (in/on/under/behind) is very common but not required when the place is clear from context. The progressive form 'nesting' is frequent in nature observation contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to place items of the same kind so that each smaller one goes into the cavity of
套疊
將物品一個套入另一個以收納
to place items of the same kind so that each smaller one goes into the cavity of the next larger one, or to be made in a way that allows this.
Daichi nested the smaller table beneath the larger one to free up floor space.
Daichi 把小桌子套在大桌子底下，以空出地板空間。
transitive: nest + object + preposition
These plastic storage boxes nest inside each other when they are not in use.
這些塑膠收納盒不用的時候可以互相套疊在一起。
intransitive: nest inside each other
Gabriel nested the camping chairs one by one and slid them into the car boot.
Gabriel 把露營椅一把一把套好，再滑進車子的後車廂。
The steel saucepans nest neatly on the kitchen shelf because the handles fold flat.
那些不鏽鋼鍋因為把手可以折平，所以在廚房架上可以整齊地套疊。
intransitive + adverb: nest neatly
Mira nested the Russian dolls carefully, starting with the largest at the bottom.
Mira 從最大的一個開始，小心地把俄羅斯套娃一個一個套好。
transitive: nest + object + adverb
- nest inside each other
- nest together
- nest neatly
- nest bowls
- nest tables
- nest chairs
- fit inside
more general; does not imply that the objects are a matching set
- stack
usually means placing objects on top of each other, not one inside another
文法句型
nest + object + inside/in
nest + together
nest inside each other
用法筆記
This sense describes the root verb 'nest' — the action of fitting objects together. The intransitive form ('The chairs nest together') emphasises a design feature of the objects. The transitive form ('She nested the bowls') emphasises the action of arranging them. Both are common in retail descriptions of furniture and kitchenware.
常見錯誤
3. to place a section of code, text, or data at a deeper level inside a structure o
嵌入
將程式碼或資料放入層級結構
to place a section of code, text, or data at a deeper level inside a structure of the same type, such as a loop inside a loop or a tag inside a tag.
Shanti nested a table within a table to create a complex layout for the product page.
Shanti 在一個表格裡再嵌入一個表格，為產品頁建立複雜的版面。
transitive: nest [A] within [B] — computing pattern
Eliska accidentally nested too many if-statements and could not follow her own logic.
Eliska 不小心嵌入了太多層 if 陳述式，最後連自己都看不懂了。
The developer nested the JSON objects three levels deep for the API response.
開發者把 JSON 物件往深處嵌了三層，作為 API 回應的格式。
nest [data] + adverbial: [number] levels deep
Gita nested the CSS rules inside a media query so they only applied on mobile screens.
Gita 把 CSS 規則嵌入一個媒體查詢中，這樣它們只會在手機螢幕上生效。
nest [A] inside [B] — conditional pattern
You can nest one function call inside another to process the data more efficiently.
你可以把一個函數呼叫嵌入另一個函數裡，以更有效率地處理資料。
- nest code inside
- nest a loop within
- nest tags
- nest functions
- nest objects
- nest deeply
文法句型
nest + object + inside/in/within
nest + object
用法筆記
This sense describes the root verb 'nest' — the computing action of placing code or data inside another structure. Common in programming (nesting loops, conditionals, functions), markup languages (nesting HTML tags), and data formats (nesting JSON objects or XML elements). Deep nesting (more than 3–4 levels) is often considered poor practice.
常見錯誤
fly the nest
idiomto leave your parents' home for the first time to live on your own, usually as a young adult.
離巢；離家獨立
Both of Salma's children have flown the nest and now share a flat in the city centre.
Daichi felt a mix of pride and sadness when his youngest son flew the nest last September.
feather one's nest
idiomto make yourself wealthy or comfortable, especially by using your position or power unfairly.
中飽私囊；營私牟利
The manager used company funds to feather his own nest and was fired when the audit found the missing money.
Several local officials feathered their nests by awarding building contracts to friends and relatives.
leave the nest
idiomto move out of your childhood home and begin living independently.
離家獨立
Jenna left the nest at seventeen to study nursing at a college in another town.
High housing prices mean many young adults in Taipei cannot afford to leave the nest.
a nest egg
idioman amount of money that you have saved for future use, especially for retirement or emergencies.
儲備金；積蓄
Hassan built a small nest egg by putting aside part of every pay cheque for fifteen years.
Camila used her nest egg to start a small bakery after leaving her office job.
empty nest
idioma home where all the children have grown up and moved away, leaving the parents living alone.
空巢（子女長大離家後的家庭狀態）
After the last daughter moved out, Gabriel and his wife took time to adjust to their empty nest.
Empty nest syndrome describes the loneliness some parents feel once their children have all left home.
nested — 名詞
1. a round or cup-shaped structure made from twigs, grass, mud, or other natural ma
鳥巢
鳥類或動物用樹枝草葉築成的巢
a round or cup-shaped structure made from twigs, grass, mud, or other natural materials, built by a bird, insect, or other animal for laying eggs and raising its young.
A sparrow built its nest in the drainpipe above Mira's bedroom window this spring.
今年春天，一隻麻雀在 Mira 臥室窗戶上方的排水管裡築了一個巢。
possessive: its nest / [animal]'s nest
The children found an old wasp nest hanging from a branch behind the garden shed.
孩子們在花園工具間後面的樹枝上發現了一個舊蜂巢。
Reuben climbed the tree to look at the nest but was careful not to scare the mother bird away.
Reuben 爬上樹去看鳥巢，但很小心不嚇到鳥媽媽。
Eagles build their nests on high cliff ledges where predators cannot reach the eggs.
老鷹在懸崖高處築巢，這樣掠食者就碰不到牠們的蛋。
build + possessive + nest
Ari spotted a squirrel's nest made of leaves and twigs high in the oak tree.
Ari 在高大的橡樹上看見一個用樹葉和樹枝做成的松鼠巢。
compound: squirrel's nest (also called a drey)
- build a nest
- a bird's nest
- a wasp's nest
- an empty nest
- abandoned nest
- nest of twigs
- nest in a tree
文法句型
a/the nest of [animal]
[animal]'s nest
build a nest
用法筆記
This sense describes the root noun 'nest' — a physical animal shelter. A nest is built or constructed by the animal — it is not found ready-made. Different animals build very different kinds of nests: birds use twigs and grass, wasps use chewed wood pulp, termites build mounds of earth, and squirrels build leaf nests called dreys in tree branches.
常見錯誤
2. a warm, comfortable, and safe place where someone lives or feels completely at h
安樂窩
讓人感到溫暖舒適的住處
a warm, comfortable, and safe place where someone lives or feels completely at home, often with a sense of cosiness and privacy.
After a long day at the hospital, Jenna was happy to return to her cosy nest by the river.
在醫院忙碌了一天之後，Jenna 很開心回到她在河邊的舒適安樂窩。
metaphorical: someone's cosy nest
The corner cafe became Shanti's nest where she graded papers and drank tea every afternoon.
那間街角咖啡館成了 Shanti 的安樂窩，她每天下午在那裡改作業、喝茶。
Eliska turned the spare bedroom into a reading nest with cushions and a warm lamp.
Eliska 把客房打造成了一個閱讀安樂窩，放了靠墊和一盞溫暖的燈。
compound: reading nest
The small cabin in the woods was the perfect nest for a writer who needed peace and quiet.
森林中的小木屋對於需要安靜的作家來說，是完美的安樂窩。
- a cosy nest
- a comfortable nest
- a warm nest
- one's nest
- a reading nest
- a little nest
文法句型
someone's nest
a nest of [comfort/luxury]
用法筆記
This sense describes the root noun 'nest' — used metaphorically. Always warm and affectionate. It describes a place that feels personal, safe, and often small or snug — not a large or grand home. Common in phrases like 'cosy nest', 'little nest', 'warm nest'.
3. a place where people gather secretly to do something illegal, dishonest, or harm
罪惡巢穴
藏匿不法行為或壞事的場所
a place where people gather secretly to do something illegal, dishonest, or harmful, or where negative things have developed and spread.
The abandoned warehouse was a nest of thieves who had been stealing from local shops.
那間廢棄倉庫是小偷窩，他們一直在偷竊當地商店的財物。
collocation: a nest of thieves
Journalists uncovered a nest of corruption inside the city's planning department.
記者揭露了市府規劃部門內部貪腐的巢穴。
collocation: a nest of corruption
The small border town had become a nest of spies working for the enemy government.
這個邊境小鎮已經變成了一個間諜窩，裡面盡是為敵國政府工作的情報人員。
collocation: a nest of spies
Police raided the building and discovered a nest of criminals operating a gambling ring.
警方突襲了那棟建築，發現一個犯罪窩點，裡面的人正在經營賭博集團。
- a nest of thieves
- a nest of spies
- a nest of corruption
- a nest of vipers
- a nest of criminals
文法句型
a nest of [criminals/spies/corruption/vipers]
用法筆記
This sense describes the root noun 'nest' — used negatively. Almost always followed by 'of' plus a noun referring to criminals, dishonest people, or negative qualities (thieves, spies, corruption, vice, intrigue, vipers). Very common in news reports about crime and scandal. The phrase 'a nest of vipers' is a traditional expression meaning a group of treacherous people.
常見錯誤
4. a group of similar objects made in different sizes that are designed so that eac
套疊組
一組由大到小可互相套疊的物品
a group of similar objects made in different sizes that are designed so that each one fits neatly inside the next larger one, saving storage space.
A nest of three wooden tables stood in the corner of Shanti's living room.
Shanti 的客廳角落裡放了一組三張的套疊式木桌。
fixed expression: a nest of [number] [objects]
Ari bought a nest of stainless steel mixing bowls as a wedding present for his sister.
Ari 買了一組不鏽鋼套疊攪拌碗，當作送給妹妹的結婚禮物。
Gita's grandmother gave her a nest of three ceramic dolls painted with flowers and gold trim.
Gita 的祖母送了她一組三個的套疊陶瓷娃娃，上面繪有花朵和金色花邊。
pattern: a nest of [material] [objects]
The tiny apartment was furnished with a nest of small tables that unfolded when guests arrived.
這間小公寓裡放了一組套疊小桌，客人來的時候可以展開使用。
- a nest of tables
- a nest of bowls
- a nest of boxes
- a nest of drawers
- nest of furniture
文法句型
a nest of [plural noun]
用法筆記
This sense describes the root noun 'nest' — as a set of objects. The phrase 'a nest of tables' is a common fixed expression in furniture catalogues and home stores. Similar terms include 'nest of drawers' for a set of small stacked drawers. The objects are usually sold together as a set.