1BEDDHB[countableC] a small bed for a baby, especially one that moves gently from side to side 摇篮 → cot
She rocked the cradle to quieten the child.
她摇动摇篮,让宝宝安静下来。
2the cradle of somethingformalCOME FROM/ORIGINATE the place where something important began 某事物的发源地;某事物的策源地
Athens is often regarded as the cradle of democracy.
雅典常常被认为是民主的发源地。
Examples from the Corpus
the cradle of something• It was also the cradle of the nation's aircraftindustry, starting with A V Roe's historicflight in 1908.• I imagined Richard, my massivehunk, sheltering a tinykitty in the cradle of his arm.• Inside the cradle of my legs I carry hunger.• This region after all is the cradle of civilisation.• Democracy of the shared class-room experience is the cradle of democracy in the outside world.• I was born on the crest of a wave and rocked in the cradle of the deep.• All told, the cradle ofcivilization has been tearing asunder for some 30 million years.• Leipzig was the cradle ofEast Germany's pro-democracy movement.• In school we sangHail to thee, Lake Wobegon, the cradle of our youth.
3from (the) cradle to (the) graveLONG TIMEall through your life 一辈子,从生到死
From cradle to grave, the car marks every rite of American passage.
cradle• The baby rested peacefully in his cradle.• Out of nowhere came a goldincensecradle.• Jane put Chantal down in her makeshiftcradle in the corner and hastily tidied herself up.• When the telephone rang, it was like a rude interruption into a special cradle of time.• In it was a single bed and also the cradle in which she and Jessie had lain many years ago.• AncientAthens is generally thought of as the cradle of democracy.• Baghdad, the cradle of civilization• He put the phone down on the cradle and stared at it.• When we hear Frau Braun coming, I hastily drop the gauze over the cradle and hide behind the partition.• Yearning made a warmcradle in her stomach.• I curse myself for not strangling you in your cradle.
rocked ... cradle• If she cried he rocked the cradle and sang to her tunelessly.
from the cradle• They are electrically powered and operate from supports built on rails with vertical and horizontalmovement controlled from the cradle.• Her life, comparativeeasefrom the cradle up; she had to thank her father.• Because you've been crackers about Christopher, in love with him from the cradle.• He had heard stories of Ireland from the cradle, as most Catholic children had.• Practices which have characterised the details of your daily living from the cradleupwards are dealt a swift and finalblow.• The state now provided something of a protectivesafetynetfrom the cradle to the grave.
cradle2 verb [transitiveT]
1PROTECTto hold something gently, as if to protect it 轻轻地抱着
2to hold a telephone receiver by putting it between your ear and your shoulder 〔用耳部和肩部〕夹住〔电话听筒〕
She hunched over the desk, telephone cradled at her neck.
她伏在桌上,脖子上夹着电话听筒。
Examples from the Corpus
cradle• Inside, John lay cradling a pillow in the dark.• The elements it cradles are in a dynamicequilibrium with the cyclingcomposition of the atmosphere and water and biosphere.• Sitting down beside her, Michele pulled her on to his knee, cradling her as one would a child.• But next instant, he came closer and his fingerscradled her face, the box in her hands keeping them apart.• She felt the soldier's hand gently cradle her face.• Once she was seated, he put his arms around her, cradling her fair head against his chest.• His arm was cradled in a sling.• Tamara was safely cradled in her mother's arms.• I cradled the bottom of the paper bag containing my lambchops.• I scissored my legs closed, wanting to keep my child cradled within me, safe.