[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/drey/)

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# drey

noun (a drey, dreys)

«drey» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A drey is the nest of a squirrel, built high in a tree from twigs, leaves and moss. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#m1)
2. It is round like a ball, with a soft lining inside where the squirrel sleeps and keeps its babies warm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#m2)

### In the lessons

A nature word used in science lessons about animal homes and in stories set in woods and parks, especially in the UK. It tells the reader that a squirrel lives nearby. Phrases: «a squirrel's drey», «build a drey», «a drey in the oak».

### Examples

- We spotted a drey high up in the oak tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x1)
- Grey squirrels build their dreys from twigs and leaves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x2)
- In winter the drey is easy to see because the branches are bare. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x3)
- Baby squirrels are born in the drey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x4)
- A drey looks like a messy ball of sticks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x5)
- The squirrel ran up the trunk and disappeared into its drey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x6)
- Our class drew a map of all the dreys in the park. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x7)
- A bird's nest is open on top, but a drey usually has a roof. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/#x8)

### Note

Countable noun: one drey, two dreys. Rhymes with «day». Not the same as a bird's nest; a rabbit has a burrow, a fox has a den, a squirrel has a drey. Rare word that many adults do not know.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «drey» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drey/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«drey» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/drey.html) on Mova free.