nidus

2 definitions found

nidus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nidus \Ni"dus\, n.; pl. nidi. [L. See Nidi, Nest.]
     A nest: a repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.; a
     breeding place; esp., the place or substance where parasites
     or the germs of a disease effect lodgment or are developed.
     [1913 Webster]

nidus - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  nidus
      n 1: a central point or locus of an infection in an organism;
           "the focus of infection" [syn: focus, focal point,
           nidus]
      2: a nest in which spiders or insects deposit their eggs