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# cradle

noun (a cradle, cradles); verb (cradle, cradles, cradled, cradling)

«cradle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A cradle is a small bed for a baby, often one that can rock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#m1)
2. The place where something began: the cradle of civilisation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#m2)
3. To cradle something is to hold it gently in your arms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#m3)
4. A frame that holds something, like a phone cradle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#m4)

### In the lessons

Used in lullabies («Rock-a-bye baby… down will come baby, cradle and all»), history (cradle of civilisation), and stories and care: «from the cradle to the grave».

### Examples

- The baby slept in a wooden cradle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#x1)
- She cradled the kitten in her arms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#x2)
- Mesopotamia is called the cradle of civilisation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#x3)
- Rock the cradle gently. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#x4)
- He cradled his sore arm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#x5)
- Put the phone back in its cradle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#x6)
- “Wendy,” remonstrated Michael, “I’m too big for a cradle.” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/#x7)

### Note

Countable. «From the cradle to the grave» = all your life. Similar: crib, cot (UK).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «cradle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cradle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«cradle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cradle.html) on Mova free.