1
- a very young child's bed or cot, typically one mounted on rockers摇篮。
1.1
- figurative a place, process, or event in which something originates or flourishes〈喻〉摇篮; 发源地：
he saw Greek art as the cradle of European civilization.
他把希腊艺术看作欧洲文明的摇篮。
1.2
the cradle
figurative infancy; childhood〈喻〉婴儿时期; 幼年时期：the welfare state was set up to provide care from the cradle to the grave.
建立福利国家是为了给人们提供从生到死的终身照顾。
2
- a framework resembling a cradle, in particular摇篮形框架, 尤指：
2.1
- a framework on which a ship or boat rests during construction or repairs（造船或修船用的）支船架, 下水架。
2.2
- a framework on which a worker is suspended to work on a ceiling, ship, or the vertical side of a building（工人空中作业时用的）吊篮, 吊架。
2.3
- the part of a telephone on which the receiver rests when not in use（电话机的）听筒架, 叉簧。
with obj.
1
- hold gently and protectively把…轻轻（或关爱）地托住：
she cradled his head in her arms.
她用双臂轻轻抱着他的头。
1.1
- figurative be the place of origin of〈喻〉是…的摇篮; 是…的发源地：
the north-eastern states cradled an American industrial revolution.
东北部各州是美国工业革命的发源地。
2
- place (a telephone receiver) in its cradle把（电话听筒）搁好。
词源
Old English cradol, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German Kratte 'basket'.