cradle
cra·dle [cradle cradles cradled cradling] noun, verb BrE [ˈkreɪdl] NAmE [ˈkreɪdl]
noun 
1. a small bed for a baby which can be pushed gently from side to side
•She rocked the baby to sleep in its cradle.
2. usually singular ~ of sth the place where sth important began
•Greece, the cradle of Western civilization
3. (BrE)a small platform that can be moved up and down the outside of a high building, used by people cleaning windows, etc.
4. the part of a telephone on which the ↑receiver rests
more at rob the cradle at ↑rob
Word Origin:
Old English cradol, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German Kratte ‘basket’.
Idiom: ↑from the cradle to the grave
verb ~ sb/sth
to hold sb/sth gently in your arms or hands
•The old man cradled the tiny baby in his arms.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English cradol, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German Kratte ‘basket’.
Example Bank:
•She sat with the child cradled against her.
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