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| cra·dle [ kráyd'l ] |
noun (plural cra·dles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. baby's bed: a small bed for a baby, with rockers and enclosing sides
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2. starting place: the place where something begins or develops in its early stages
  the cradle of civilization
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3. support for telephone handset: the part of a telephone on which the handset rests or hangs
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4. automotive mechanic's board on wheels: a flat board on wheels or casters on which a mechanic can slide under a vehicle
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5. civil engineering supporting framework: a framework for supporting something such as a ship that is being built or repaired
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6. civil engineering hanging platform: a movable platform or cage hung on the side of something such as a building or ship, to hold a worker
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7. medicine protective frame supporting sheet or blanket: a frame placed beneath a top sheet or blanket covering a patient to keep it from touching a sensitive part of the body, e.g. after an injury or operation
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8. mineral extract panning device: a rocking device like a box used in panning for gold
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transitive verb (past and past participle cra·dled, present participle cra·dling, 3rd person present singular cra·dles) |
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1. hold somebody or something carefully: to hold or support somebody or something tenderly, carefully, or protectively, especially in a hollow formed with the arms or hands
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2. put somebody or something into cradle: to put somebody or something into a cradle or something like a cradle
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3. civil engineering support something in framework: to support something such as a ship that is being built or repaired in a framework
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4. nurture somebody or something: to look after a young child or support something in the early stages of its development
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5. mineral extract wash soil for gold: to wash gold-bearing soil in a cradle
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| [ Old English cradol] |
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| cra·dler noun |
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rob the cradle to be romantically or sexually involved with somebody who is much younger (informal)
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