cradle

The definition of a cradle is a small, low bed for a baby, or the earliest period of life.

(noun)

An example of a cradle is what a newborn sleeps in.
An example of the cradle is the place where society started, the cradle of German society.

Cradle is defined as to put in a low bed for an infant or to hold in a protective manner.

(verb)

An example of to cradle is for a person to carry a kitten close in her arms.

See cradle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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.,
1. wooden or metal framework to support or lift a boat, ship, aircraft, etc. that is being built or repaired
2. ☆ creeper (sense )
3. the support on which the handset of a telephone () rests when not in use
4. Agric. a frame fastened to a scythe () so that the grain can be laid evenly as it is cut
5. Med. a frame for keeping bedclothes from touching an injured limb, etc.
6. ☆ Mining a boxlike device on rockers, for washing the gold out of gold-bearing sand

Origin: ME cradel < OE cradol < *kradula, little basket; akin to OHG kratto, basket < IE base *ger-, to twist, turn > crank, cramp, creek

transitive verb cradled, cradling

intransitive verb

Obsolete to lie in or as in a cradle

See cradle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A small low bed for an infant, often furnished with rockers.
a. The earliest period of life: had an interest in music almost from the cradle.
b. A place of origin; a birthplace: the cradle of civilization.
a. A framework of wood or metal used to support something, such as a ship undergoing construction or repair.
b. A framework used to protect an injured limb.
A low flat framework that rolls on casters, used by a mechanic working beneath an automobile. Also called creeper.
The part of a telephone that contains the connecting switch upon which the receiver and mouthpiece unit is supported.
a. A frame projecting above a scythe, used to catch grain as it is cut so that it can be laid flat.
b. A scythe equipped with such a frame.
A boxlike device furnished with rockers, used for washing gold-bearing dirt.

verb cra·dled, cra·dling, cra·dles

verb, transitive

a. To place or retain in or as if in a cradle.
b. To care for or nurture in infancy.
c. To hold or support protectively: cradled the cat in his arms.
To reap (grain) with a cradle.
To place or support (a ship, for example) in a cradle.
To wash (gold-bearing dirt) in a cradle.

verb, intransitive
Obsolete

To lie in or as if in a cradle.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English cradel

Origin: , from Old English

Related Forms: