cradle

Pronunciation

• enPR: krāʹdəl, IPA ^(key): /ˈkreɪdəl/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

Singular cradle

Plural cradles

Rocking cradle (sense 1)

Empty ship cradle (sense 2) on steel rails

1. (countable) A cradle is a bed or cot for a baby. It is usually mounted on rockers.
2. (countable) (nautical) A cradle is a framework on which a ship or boat is placed on during construction or repairs.

Verb

Plain form cradle

Third-person singular cradles

Past tense cradled

Past participle cradled

Present participle cradling

1. (transitive) If you cradle something, you contain it in a cradle.
2. (transitive) If you cradle a baby, you rock the baby to sleep.