1
Western US
: a homesteader or squatter who takes up land on open range for a farm
2
: one that nests
Wood ducks are cavity nesters, setting up shop in holes high in trees.—
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The birds are late nesters and wait until mid-summer to start settling down for breeding.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024
Another very late nester in our area is the American goldfinch.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Cedar waxwings are present in flocks of up to many dozens of individuals in winter and spring and are regular nesters in the higher elevations of our mountains.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
In the spring, areas around the younger trees drew ground nesters like bobolinks — songbirds that migrate to and from South America — killdeer and woodcocks, who availed themselves of the open spaces to perform their courtship flights and rear their young.
—Cara Buckley, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for nester 
Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024
Another very late nester in our area is the American goldfinch.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Cedar waxwings are present in flocks of up to many dozens of individuals in winter and spring and are regular nesters in the higher elevations of our mountains.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
In the spring, areas around the younger trees drew ground nesters like bobolinks — songbirds that migrate to and from South America — killdeer and woodcocks, who availed themselves of the open spaces to perform their courtship flights and rear their young.
—Cara Buckley, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for nester
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nester.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Nester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nester. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nester
noun
nest·er
ˈnes-tər 
1
: one that nests
2
West
: a person who settles on open range in order to farm
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