cradle

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈkɹeɪdəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #9404

Meanings

1

noun
a small bed for a baby, often one that can rock

The baby slept in a wooden cradle.
2

noun
the place or situation where something begins or is nurtured

The region is often called the cradle of democracy.
3

verb
to hold something gently and carefully

She cradled the injured bird in her palms.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a small bed for a baby,... crib cot

2 noun · the place or situation... birthplace source origin

3 verb · to hold something gently... hold support

Word family

Derived forms babe-in-a-cradlecradle-robbercradle-snatchcradle-to-gravecradleboardcradlefulcradlehoodcradlelandcradlelesscradlelikecradlemakercradlemaking

Related forms crib

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

cradle cap
a skin condition that causes flaky or crusted patches on an infant's scalp

Noun + noun

Proverbs (1)

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The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

Etymology

From Middle English cradel, credel, from Old English cradol, from Proto-West Germanic *kradul, from Proto-Germanic *kradulaz, from Proto-Germanic *kradô (“(wicker) basket”). Related to cart.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

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