cradle
[noun]
Synonyms:
- crib, bassinet, cot, Moses basket
- birthplace, beginning, fount, fountainhead, origin, source, spring, wellspring
[verb]
Synonyms:
- hold, lull, nestle, nurse, rock, support

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English Thesaurus: hug, embrace, cuddle, put your arms around somebody, cradle, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. cra‧dle¹ /ˈkreɪdl/ 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)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. cradle² 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.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

cradle
verb
ADV. gently He picked the child up and gently cradled him in his arms.
PREP. against She sat with the child cradled against her.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

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.
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.
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.
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.
She cradled his head in her hands and kissed him on the forehead

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

cradle
ˈkreɪdl
See: rob the cradle

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲