Meanings
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1
noun
a small bed for a baby, often one that can rock
The baby slept in a wooden cradle.
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2
noun
the place or situation where something begins or is nurtured
The region is often called the cradle of democracy.
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3
verb
to hold something gently and carefully
She cradled the injured bird in her palms.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Word family
Derived forms
babe-in-a-cradlecradle-robbercradle-snatchcradle-to-gravecradleboardcradlefulcradlehoodcradlelandcradlelesscradlelikecradlemakercradlemaking
Related forms
crib
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.