好词典

nests

UK //nɛsts//US //nɛsts//

词源

源自古英语'nest',与荷兰语'nest'、德语'Nest'同源,可能源自原始印欧语词根*nisd-(坐下的地方)。

noun

❶ 鸟类或其他动物用树枝、草等材料搭建的住所,用于产卵和哺育幼崽。通常呈碗状或洞穴状结构。

“The birds built their nests high in the trees.”

(鸟儿们在树的高处筑巢。)

“We found an abandoned nest with three eggs inside.”

(我们发现了一个废弃的鸟巢,里面有三颗蛋。)

❶ 比喻安全舒适的居住环境或庇护所,常带有温馨、私密的含义。

“After a long trip, I'm glad to be back in my cozy nest.”

(长途旅行后,我很高兴回到我舒适的小窝。)

“The newlyweds are feathering their love nest.”

(新婚夫妇正在布置他们的爱巢。)

同义词:den, lair, burrow, hideaway, sanctuary

verb

❶ 鸟类或其他动物筑巢的行为,指收集材料并搭建居住空间的过程。

“The swallows are nesting under the eaves of our house.”

(燕子正在我们房子的屋檐下筑巢。)

“These turtles nest on the same beach every year.”

(这些海龟每年都在同一片海滩上筑巢。)

❶ 将物品整齐地叠放或套在一起,通常指可堆叠的物品形成紧凑的收纳状态。

“The plastic chairs nest neatly inside each other for storage.”

(这些塑料椅子可以互相嵌套整齐存放。)

“This cookware set has pots that nest together to save space.”

(这套厨具的锅可以互相嵌套以节省空间。)

同义词:stack, embed, encase, fit together, interlock

常见短语

nest egg — 指为未来储备的积蓄或资金,特别是为退休准备的储蓄,暗示像鸟巢中的蛋一样需要保护和积累。

“They've been building a nest egg for their children's education.”

(他们一直在为孩子的教育储备资金。)

empty nest — 指子女长大离家后父母独居的家庭状态,常带有父母需要适应新生活的含义。

“After their youngest went to college, they became empty nesters.”

(最小的孩子上大学后,他们成了空巢老人。)