cradle

cra|dle¹ [ˈkreıdl] n

[: Old English; Origin: cradol]

1.)

a small bed for a baby, especially one that moves gently from side to side

→↑cot

▪ She rocked the cradle to quieten the child.

2.) the cradle of sth

formal the place where something important began

▪ Athens is often regarded as the cradle of democracy.

3.) from (the) cradle to (the) grave

all through your life

▪ From cradle to grave, the car marks every rite of American passage.

4.) [singular]

the beginning of something

▪ Like most Catholic children, he had heard stories of Ireland from the cradle .

5.)

a structure that is used to lift something heavy up or down

▪ a window-cleaner's cradle

6.)

the part of a telephone where you put the ↑receiver when you are not using it

▪ She replaced the receiver on the cradle.

→↑cat's cradle,rob the cradle at ↑rob

cradle ²

cradle² v [T]

1.) to hold something gently, as if to protect it

▪ John cradled the baby in his arms.

2.) to hold a telephone ↑receiver by putting it between your ear and your shoulder

▪ She hunched over the desk, telephone cradled at her neck.