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   Cra·dle

   /ˈkrād(ə)l/

   

   noun

   • 1. an infant's bed or crib, typically one mounted on rockers: "the baby slept peacefully in its cradle" Similar cribbassinetMoses basketcotcarrycot
   • ▪ infancy: "a society that would secure the welfare of its citizens from cradle to grave"
   • ▪ a place, process, or event in which something originates or flourishes: "he saw Greek art as the cradle of European civilization" Similar birthplacefountfountainheadsourcespringfountainoriginplace of originbreeding placenurseryrootrootsseatseedgermbeginningstartoriginationgenesisbirthdawningdawnemergenceinceptionlaunchcreationearly stagesconceptioninaugurationfoundationoutsetfons et origoformal:commencementliterary:wellspringrare:radix
   • 2. a framework on which a ship or boat rests during construction or repairs. Similar frameworkrackholderstandbasesupportmountingmountplatformprophorserestchockplinthbottomtrivetbracketframesubframestructuresubstructurechassis
   • ▪ the part of a phone on which the receiver rests when not in use.
   • ▪ a trough on rockers in which auriferous earth or sand is shaken in water to separate the gold.

   verb

   • 1. hold gently and protectively: "she cradled his head in her arms"
   • ▪ be the place of origin of: "the northeastern states cradled an American industrial revolution"
   • 2. place (a phone receiver) in its cradle: "she cradled the receiver gently"

   Word Origin Old Englishcradol, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German Kratte ‘basket’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

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   • R

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