roost
roost / roost / roost
NounIntransitive VerbTransitive Verb
pl: roostspast: roostedpp: roosteding: roosting
This term describes the specific behavioral pattern of birds seeking a safe elevation for nocturnal rest. It is distinct from nesting, as roosting is a daily requirement for sleep rather than a seasonal requirement for breeding and raising young. In a figurative sense, the word evokes stability or domesticity. The common idiom regarding chickens coming home to roost uses the imagery of returning birds to describe the inevitable return of the consequences of one's past wrongdoings.
Meanings
Nounroost
A place where birds settle or congregate to sleep.
"The chickens returned to their roost as the sun set."
Intransitive Verbroost
[~]
To settle or congregate in a place for sleep or rest, typically used of birds.
"The crows roost in the old oak tree every night."