cradle

1 of 2

noun

cra·​dle ˈkrā-dᵊl How to pronounce cradle (audio)
1
a
: a bed or cot for a baby usually on rockers or pivots
b
: a framework or support suggestive of a baby's cradle: such as
(1)
: a framework of bars and rods
(2)
: the support for a telephone receiver or handset
(3)
: a charging station for a device (such as a smartphone or tablet)
c
: an implement with rods like fingers attached to a scythe and used formerly for harvesting grain
d
: a frame to keep the bedclothes from contact with an injured part of the body
2
a
: the earliest period of life : infancy
from the cradle to the grave
b
: a place of origin
the cradle of civilization
3
: a rocking device used in panning for gold

cradle

2 of 2

verb

cradled; cradling ˈkrād-liŋ How to pronounce cradle (audio)
ˈkrā-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to place or keep in or as if in a cradle
b
c
: to support protectively or intimately
cradling the injured man's head in her arms
2
: to cut (grain) with a cradle scythe
3
: to place, raise, support, or transport on a cradle

intransitive verb

obsolete : to rest in or as if in a cradle

Examples of cradle in a Sentence

Noun She placed the phone back on its cradle. A number of ships were resting in their cradles in the shipyard. Verb He cradled her face in his hands. She was cradling the injured man's head in her arms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Renowned as the cradle of wasabi cultivation, Shizuoka offers no shortage of opportunities to savor Japan’s piquant treasure. Jonny Bierman, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024 Molecular clouds are giant, chilly clumps of dust and frozen gas that contain abundant water ice and serve as cradles for stars and planets alike. Shannon Hall, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024 They had been fitted with cradles, a once-common conservation technique for paintings on wood that is no longer recommended. Christopher Knight, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 The topper is divided into three sections that are designed to either cradle, contour, or relieve pressure depending. Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023 Normally biopics that are from cradle to the grave are sort of a terrible idea. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2024 In one fluid motion, Gosling cradles and dips Robbie. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2024 Removal of the Cranach paintings’ cradles at some unknown date in history required a process of scraping and planing the back. Christopher Knight, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 The pen can be placed in the cradle with the nib end up or down. PCMAG, 26 Jan. 2024
Verb
Video from the scene shows a lifeguard lifting one of the dogs out of the car and cradling the dog back toward shore. Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024 It's covered with a gel-like cooling cover, and the deep coils are surrounded by inches of foam to cradle you from head to toe. Sarah Madaus, Allure, 14 Mar. 2024 Giordano says the bolster sides and memory foam base cradled her perfectly for activities like reading, watching TV, scrolling TikTok, and even taking a nap. Nena Farrell, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2024 Cartwright posted a series of photos holding up several sonograms as Taylor cradled her baby bump. Tamara Palmer, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 One by one, the artifacts come out, gently cradled and placed on a tarp. Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 22 Feb. 2024 The photo shows the 34-year-old cookbook author and lifestyle entrepreneur reclining against two cafe chairs and wearing a nude bralette, blazer and strappy white sandals, while cradling her bump. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 That same week, the pregnant model was photographed cradling her baby bump while out and about in Los Angeles. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 The infant Sophia, cradled in the bronze arms of her mother, was her direct ancestor. Cynthia Greenlee, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cradle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cradel, from Old English cradol; perhaps akin to Old High German kratto basket, Sanskrit grantha knot

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cradle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near cradle

Cite this Entry

“Cradle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cradle. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cradle

1 of 2 noun
cra·​dle ˈkrād-ᵊl How to pronounce cradle (audio)
1
: a bed for a baby usually on rockers
2
a
: a place of origin
the cradle of civilization
b
: the earliest period of life
3
: a framework or support resembling a baby's cradle in appearance or use
4
: a tool with rods like fingers attached to a scythe and used formerly for harvesting grain
5
: a rocking tool used in panning for gold
6
: a support for a telephone handset

cradle

2 of 2 verb
cradled; cradling ˈkrād-liŋ How to pronounce cradle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
a
: to place or keep in or as if in a cradle
b
: to protect and cherish lovingly
2
: to cut grain with a cradle
3
: to wash in a miner's cradle

Medical Definition

cradle

noun
cra·​dle ˈkrād-ᵊl How to pronounce cradle (audio)
1
: a bed or cot for a baby usually on rockers or pivots
2
a
: a frame to keep the bedclothes from contact with an injured part of the body
b
: a frame placed on the neck of an animal to keep it from biting an injury or sore

More from Merriam-Webster on cradle

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