I. cra ‧ dle 1 /ˈkreɪdl/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: cradol ]
1 . [countable] a small bed for a baby, especially one that moves gently from side to side ⇨ cot :
She rocked the cradle to quieten the child.
2 . the cradle of something formal the place where something important began:
Athens is often regarded as the cradle of democracy.
3 . from (the) cradle to (the) grave all through your life:
From cradle to grave, the car marks every rite of American passage.
4 . [singular] the beginning of something:
Like most Catholic children, he had heard stories of Ireland from the cradle.
5 . [countable] a structure that is used to lift something heavy up or down:
a window-cleaner’s cradle
6 . [countable] the part of a telephone where you put the ↑ receiver when you are not using it:
She replaced the receiver on the cradle.
⇨ CAT’S CRADLE , ⇨ rob the cradle at ↑ rob (5)
II. cradle 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to hold something gently, as if to protect it:
John cradled the baby in his arms.
2 . to hold a telephone ↑ receiver by putting it between your ear and your shoulder:
She hunched over the desk, telephone cradled at her neck.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ hug ( also give somebody a hug ) to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly to show love or friendship:
Mother hugged him and tucked him into bed.
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Come here and give me a big hug.
▪ embrace to put your arms around someone and hold him or her in a caring way. Embrace is more formal than hug :
Jason warmly embraced his son.
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The two leaders embraced each other.
▪ cuddle to put your arms around someone or something as a sign of love, especially a child or a small animal:
She sat on a chair, cuddling her daughter.
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He cuddled the puppy.
▪ put your arms around somebody to hold someone closely to your body, especially to comfort them or show that you love them:
The woman put her arms around the sobbing boy.
▪ cradle written to hold someone very gently in your arms, like you would hold a baby:
She held the baby in her arms.
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She cradled his head in her hands and kissed him on the forehead