cradle Definition
cra·dle (krād′'l)
noun
- a baby's small bed, usually on rockers
- the earliest period of one's life; infancy
- the place of a thing's beginning or early development the cradle of civilization
- Old Poet. a place of rest rocked in the cradle of the deep
- anything resembling a cradle or used somewhat like a cradle, as for holding or rocking; specif.,
- wooden or metal framework to support or lift a boat, ship, aircraft, etc. that is being built or repaired
- ☆ creeper (sense )
- the support on which the handset of a telephone (cradle telephone) rests when not in use
- Agric. a frame fastened to a scythe (cradle scythe) so that the grain can be laid evenly as it is cut
- Med. a frame for keeping bedclothes from touching an injured limb, etc.
- ☆ Mining a boxlike device on rockers, for washing the gold out of gold-bearing sand
Etymology: ME cradel < OE cradol < *kradula, little basket; akin to OHG kratto, basket < IE base *ger-, to twist, turn > crank, cramp, creek
transitive verb -·dled, -·dling
- to place, rock, or hold in or as in a cradle
- to take care of in infancy; nurture
- to cut (grain) with a cradle scythe
- ☆ Mining to wash (gold-bearing sand) in a cradle
intransitive verb
Obsolete to lie in or as in a cradle
cradle Idioms
rob the cradle
to take as one's sweetheart or one's spouse a person much younger than oneself
cradle Synonyms
cradle
n.
A baby's bed
crib, bassinet, trundle bed; see bed 1.A place of nurture
spring, fountain, ultimate source; see foundation 2, origin 2.
cradle Usage Examples
Object
baby: The cradled babies of to-day will be on deck.
Converse of object
- dock: Smart card reader Some of these features are enabled by using a ` docking cradle ' provided with the base unit.
- rock: Pram has 2 positions and converts into a rocking cradle with 2 positions.
- connect: Once you have connected the cradle for the first time, you will not have to reconnect the cables each time you get home.
Adjective modifier
- desktop: A desktop synchronization cradle with an extra battery slot also comes in the box.
- wooden: A wooden cradle, designed to carry two at a time, was found to be too heavy.
Modifies a noun
- cap: Cradle cap can be loosened with a mixture of salicylic acid in aqueous cream, which is then washed out with baby shampoo.
- swing: The grant will pay for the installation of flat and cradle swings and a swing barrier.
- frame: The engine is now a stressed member of the new double cradle frame which translates to better rigidity and stability.
Modifying Another Word
gently: The product is gently cradled in two pieces of EPS rather than several bits of cardboard. c ) cuts the packing time by two-thirds.
Noun used with modifier
- doll: The plain handmade wooden train, doll cradle or circus animal is most often the.. .
- steel: But, in the last weeks, the object will actually appear more like a husk caught in the web of its steel cradle.
- cat: Here's how to make a cats cradle using your fingers.
Possessives
cat: Every road in London would be a cat's cradle of tangled cables.
Preposition: of
- civilization: The Middle East has been called the cradle of civilization.
- civilization: You may then decide to take a step back in history and head for Athens, the cradle of western civilization.
- Christianity: The cradle of Scots Christianity is St Martin's Abbey, by the Loire near Tours.
- mankind: I think the true image of Ethiopia is a country which is the cradle of mankind.
- revolution: The British dubbed the Green Dragon Tavern as " the cradle of the revolution " and war broke out soon after.
- democracy: The United States, the cradle of democracy, the leader of the free world, is behaving like us.
Browse dictionary entries near cradle
- ‹ -cracy
- ‹ Cracow
- ‹ Crackz
- ‹ cracky
- ‹ crackup
- ‹ cracksman
- ‹ crackpot
- ‹ cracknel
- ‹ crackly
- ‹ crackling
- cradle cap ›
- cradlesong ›
- craft ›
- -craft ›
- craft union ›
- craftsman ›
- craftsperson ›
- craftswoman ›
- crafty ›
- crag ›
Print this Page
Suggestion Box
Send to Friend
