Definition of cradle - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
childcareUK baby's bed with sides and rockersUK
- The newborn slept peacefully in the cradle..
2.
originplace where something begins or is nurtured
- The city is known as the cradle of jazz.
3.
telephone restDated part of a telephone where the receiver restsDated
- She placed the phone back on the cradle.
4.
ship supportTECH. framework for launching or transporting shipsTECH.
- The vessel was moved using a large cradle.
5.
mining toolDated UK tool for washing gold-bearing earthDated UK
- The miners used a cradle to separate gold from the soil.
Verb
1.
parentingtr. rock a baby to sleeptr.
- He cradled the baby until she slept.
2.
caretr. hold gently and protectively in armstr.
- She cradled the kitten in her arms.
3.
early caretr. nurture or train from infancytr.
- They cradled the young artist's talent.
4.
sportstr./intr. TECH. US rock the lacrosse stick to keep the balltr./intr. TECH. US
- He cradled the ball skillfully during the game.
Images of cradle

baby's bed with sides and rockers 
framework for launching or transporting ships 
tool for washing gold-bearing earth
Expressions with cradle
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
game with string looped over fingers
We played cat's cradle during recess.
person dating much younger people
Everyone called him a cradle snatcher for dating her.
song sung to lull a child to sleep
She hummed a gentle cradle song to soothe the baby..
move a baby's bed gently back and forth
She sang a lullaby to rock the cradle.
engage romantically with a much younger person
He was accused of robbing the cradle when he dated her.
indicates something existing from birth
He has been a musician since the cradle.
place where democratic principles originated
Ancient Greece is often called the cradle of democracy.
continuously throughout a person's life
The policy covers you from cradle to grave.
act of dating someone much younger than yourself
Cradle-snatching is often frowned upon in some cultures.
region considered birthplace of culture
The Nile Valley is a cradle of civilization.
since the very beginning of life or existence
He has loved music from the cradle.
the act of dating someone much younger
Many people disapprove of cradle-robbing in their community.
since the very beginning of life
He loved music right from the cradle.
spanning an entire lifetime from birth to death
The program provides support from the cradle to the grave.
person romantically involved with much younger partner
Everyone joked that he was a cradle robber.
young child or baby in a crib
The babe-in-a-cradle was gently rocked to sleep by her mother..
state of extreme dirtiness or corruption
The abandoned house was a cradle of filth.
lasting or covering from birth to death
The report takes a cradle-to-grave approach to waste management.
skin condition on infants' scalps
The doctor diagnosed the baby with cradle cap.
device demonstrating conservation of momentum and energy
He set the Newton's cradle in motion, watching the balls swing back and forth..
device used to support ships during construction or repair
The ship was securely held in the sea cradle during its overhaul..
Origin of cradle
Old English, cradol (basket or cradle)
Terms with cradle included in their meaning
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Examples of cradle in a sentence
She gently rocked the cradle to soothe the baby. The region is the cradle of ancient civilization. This small town is the cradle of the tech industry. The phone slipped off the cradle accidentally. He picked up the receiver from the cradle. The shipyard constructed a new cradle for the upcoming launch.
Engineers inspected the cradle before the ship's transportation. A cradle was essential for the gold rush miners. They repaired the cradle before starting the day's work. She gently cradled the kitten in her arms. The nurse cradled the newborn with utmost care. He cradled the baby gently to sleep. The nurse cradled the injured bird carefully. She cradled the puppy in her arms. The teacher cradled the student's curiosity. She cradled the ball gently while running. The player cradled expertly to dodge opponents.
View all translations of cradle
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:berceau, bercer, ...
- German:Wiege, wiegen, ...
- Italian:culla, cullare, ...
- Spanish:cuna, acunar, ...
- Portuguese:berço, embalar, ...
- Chinese:摇篮, 摇晃, ...
- Japanese:揺りかご, 揺らす, ...
- Arabic:مَهْد, هَزَّ لِيُنِيم, ...
- Hebrew:עֲרִיסָה, לְנַדְנֵד, ...
- Russian:колыбель, укачивать, ...
- Ukrainian:колиска, гойдати, ...
- Hindi:पालना, झुलाना, ...

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