1. C （鸟）窝，巢　place or structure chosen or made by a bird for laying its eggs and sheltering its young
2. C （某些动物或昆虫的）窝，穴　the settle and protected home of certain other animals or insects
3. C 温床；庇护所　a place that provides favorable conditions for a particular usually bad activity
4. C 巢中之物；一窝的鸟〔兽〕; （鸟、虫的）群　the community of animals living a nest

　arouse a hornets' ～　捅马蜂窝，招惹麻烦
　build a ～　筑巢
　feather one's ～　中饱私囊，自肥
　foul one's own ～　家丑外扬
　make a ～　建窝〔家〕
　stir up a hornets' ～　捅马蜂窝，招惹麻烦
　take a ～　掏鸟巢
　comfortable ～　安乐窝
　cozy ～　安乐窝
　bird's ～　鸟窝
　hornets' ～　马蜂窝
　ants' ～　蚂蚁窝
　a ～ of birds　一窝鸟
　a ～ of crime and vice　罪恶的庇护所
　a ～ of thieves　一窝贼

　The swallows are building a nest under the roof of our house.　燕子正在我们的屋檐下筑巢。
　This is an ants's nest.　这是一个蚁穴。
　I thought my article was harmless, but I have stirred up a hornet's nest.　我认为我的文章没有什么害处，但我却惹来麻烦。
　This is a robber's nest.　这是个匪窝。
　The palace was a nest of intrigue.　这座宫殿曾是阴谋诡计的策源地。

　vi.　筑巢build or use a nest

　Most birds nest in a tree.　多数鸟在树上筑巢。
　Swallows are nesting in the garage.　燕子正在车库筑巢。

　［词源］古英语nest（鸟坐在其中的东西）