cradle

[ kreyd-l ]

/ ˈkreɪd l /

noun

a small bed for an infant, usually on rockers.

any of various supports for objects set horizontally, as the support for the handset of a telephone.

the place where anything is nurtured during its early existence: Boston was the cradle of the American Revolution.

Agriculture.

a frame of wood with a row of long curved teeth projecting above and parallel to a scythe, for laying grain in bunches as it is cut.
a scythe together with the cradle in which it is set.

a wire or wicker basket used to hold a wine bottle in a more or less horizontal position while the wine is being served.

Artillery. the part of a gun carriage on which a recoiling gun slides.

a landing platform for ferryboats, rolling on inclined tracks to facilitate loading and unloading at different water levels.

Aeronautics. a docklike structure in which a rigid or semirigid airship is built or is supported during inflation.

Automotive. creeper(def 6).

Nautical.

a shaped support for a boat, cast, etc.; chock.
truss(def 9).

Shipbuilding.

a moving framework on which a hull slides down the ways when launched.
a built-up form on which plates of irregular form are shaped.

Medicine/Medical. a frame that prevents the bedclothes from touching an injured part of a bedridden patient.

Mining. a box on rockers for washing sand or gravel to separate gold or other heavy metal.

an engraver's tool for laying mezzotint grounds.

Painting. a structure of wooden strips attached to the back of a panel, used as a support and to prevent warping.

verb (used with object), cra·dled, cra·dling.

to hold gently or protectively.

to place or rock in or as in an infant's cradle.

to nurture during infancy.

to receive or hold as a cradle.

to cut (grain) with a cradle.

to place (a vessel) on a cradle.

Mining. to wash (sand or gravel) in a cradle; rock.

Painting. to support (a panel) with a cradle.

verb (used without object), cra·dled, cra·dling.

to lie in or as if in a cradle.

to cut grain with a cradle scythe.

Idioms for cradle

rob the cradle, Informal. to marry, court, or date a person much younger than oneself.

Origin of cradle

before 1000; Middle English cradel, Old English cradol; akin to Old High German cratto basket

SYNONYMS FOR cradle

3 birthplace, fountain, font, wellspring.

OTHER WORDS FROM cradle

cra·dler, noun un·cra·dled, adjective

Words nearby cradle

cracksman, crackup, cracky, cracovienne, cracow, cradle, cradle cap, cradle roof, cradle scythe, cradle snatcher, cradle vault

British Dictionary definitions for rob the cradle

cradle

/ (ˈkreɪdəl) /

noun

a baby's bed with enclosed sides, often with a hood and rockers

a place where something originates or is nurtured during its early life the cradle of civilization

the earliest period of life they knew each other from the cradle

a frame, rest, or trolley made to support or transport a piece of equipment, aircraft, ship, etc

a platform, cage, or trolley, in which workmen are suspended on the side of a building or ship

the part of a telephone on which the handset rests when not in use

a holder connected to a computer allowing data to be transferred from a PDA, digital camera, etc

another name for creeper (def. 5)

agriculture

a framework of several wooden fingers attached to a scythe to gather the grain into bunches as it is cut
a scythe equipped with such a cradle; cradle scythe
a collar of wooden fingers that prevents a horse or cow from turning its head and biting itself

Also called: rocker a boxlike apparatus for washing rocks, sand, etc, containing gold or gem stones

engraving a tool that produces the pitted surface of a copper mezzotint plate before the design is engraved upon it

a framework used to prevent the bedclothes from touching a sensitive part of an injured person

from the cradle to the grave throughout life

verb

(tr) to rock or place in or as if in a cradle; hold tenderly

(tr) to nurture in or bring up from infancy

(tr) to replace (the handset of a telephone) on the cradle

to reap (grain) with a cradle scythe

(tr) to wash (soil bearing gold, etc) in a cradle

lacrosse to keep (the ball) in the net of the stick, esp while running with it

Derived forms of cradle

cradler, noun

Word Origin for cradle

Old English cradol; related to Old High German kratto basket

Medical definitions for rob the cradle

cradle

[ krād′l ]

n.

A small low bed for an infant, often furnished with rockers.

A frame used to keep the bedclothes from pressing on an injured part.

Idioms and Phrases with rob the cradle (1 of 2)

rob the cradle

Have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone much younger than oneself, as in The old editor was notorious for robbing the cradle, always trying to date some young reporter. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with rob the cradle (2 of 2)

cradle

see from the cradle to the grave; rob the cradle.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

cradle

noun

verb (used with object), cra·dled, cra·dling.

verb (used without object), cra·dled, cra·dling.

Idioms for cradle

Origin of cradle

SYNONYMS FOR cradle

OTHER WORDS FROM cradle

Words nearby cradle

British Dictionary definitions for rob the cradle

noun

verb

Derived forms of cradle

Word Origin for cradle

Medical definitions for rob the cradle

n.

Idioms and Phrases with rob the cradle (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with rob the cradle (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

cradle

noun

verb (used with object), cra·dled, cra·dling.

verb (used without object), cra·dled, cra·dling.

Idioms for cradle

Origin of cradle

SYNONYMS FOR cradle

OTHER WORDS FROM cradle

Words nearby cradle

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for rob the cradle

noun

verb

Derived forms of cradle

Word Origin for cradle

Medical definitions for rob the cradle

n.

Idioms and Phrases with rob the cradle (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with rob the cradle (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for rob the cradle