1. (

• cradle

) a baby bed with sides and rockers ;

2. (

• birthplace ,
• cradle ,
• place_of_origin ,
• provenance ,
• provenience

) where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence; "the birthplace of civilization" ;

3. (

• cradle

) birth of a person; "he was taught from the cradle never to cry" ;

4. (

• rocker ,
• cradle ,

) a trough that can be rocked back and forth; used by gold miners to shake auriferous earth in water in order to separate the gold ;

1. (

• cradle

) hold gently and carefully; "He cradles the child in his arms" ;

2. (

• cradle

) bring up from infancy ;

3. (

• cradle

) hold or place in or as if in a cradle; "He cradled the infant in his arms" ;

4. (

• cradle ,

) cut grain with a cradle scythe ;

5. (

• cradle ,

) wash in a cradle; "cradle gold" ;

6. (

• cradle

) run with the stick ;